Former Plainfield Parks Staffer Bettin to Lead Pekin Park District

Cameron Bettin. Credit: File photo.

A former Plainfield Park District staffer — who was originally selected to take the place of the district’s retiring executive director before being replaced by village trustee Garrett Peck — has a new gig.

Cameron Bettin, who worked for the Plainfield Park District for nearly a decade, has been hired to head up the Pekin Park District, the Pekin Times reported Friday.

Bettin, the former Plainfield superintendent of planning, was originally tapped to replace retiring Plainfield Park District Executive Director Greg Bott in March 2013. Less than two months later, a new park board majority voted to instead hire Peck to the position, and named Bettin “assistant executive director.”

Last December, Plainfield park officials said Bettin and fellow planning department staffer James Less resigned, and the department was eliminated. Since then, Peck has also resigned, and was replaced by new Executive Director Carlo Capalbo.

Bettin, 49, was named to his new post on Thursday by the Pekin park board. He is set to start the job on Dec. 8, the Pekin Times reported. The Joliet resident, who has 25 years’ experience working with park districts, will get a salary of $105,000 for his first year.

Pekin is located in the Peoria metropolitan area and is the county seat of Tazewell County.

Ayres to join Plainfield Park Board

The Plainfield Park Board will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, at the Heritage Professional Center, 24023 W. Lockport St. Among the agenda items is the swearing-in of new board member Rob Ayres.

Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, D-Shorewood, selected Ayres as one of two new commissioners who will be added to the park board thanks to a new law that will expand the board from five to seven members.

• Bertino-Tarrant Announces Pick for Plainfield Park Board