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Supervisors approve two jail hires to ease overtime; starting wages announced

Benton County Board of Supervisors · January 7, 2026

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Summary

Benton County supervisors voted to hire Ethan Hecker (starting wage $22.80/hr) and Dawson Fret (starting wage $27.13/hr) to address jail staffing shortages and reduce overtime.

The Benton County Board of Supervisors voted on Jan. 7 to hire two jailers to address staffing and overtime pressures.

Speaker 7 told the board the two hires are: Ethan Hecker (a replacement hire) at a starting wage of $22.80 an hour, and Dawson Fret (an additional position previously authorized) at a starting wage of $27.13 an hour. Speaker 2 moved to hire both candidates and Speaker 3 seconded; the board voted in favor.

Board members said the additional position was requested earlier because staff shortages had driven overtime costs. "This will cut back on the overtime," one supervisor said during the discussion.

The hires were recorded as starting immediately; the transcript indicates Dawson Fret’s first day may be as soon as the day after the meeting. Supervisors asked department staff to monitor overtime and staffing levels going forward.