Pike County and the Fraternal Order of Police are headed to arbitration to resolve a contract for Sheriff's Department employees.

The first session with a federal mediator takes place at 10 a.m. April 9.

The county's negotiators -- County Board members Mark Mountain and Harry Wright and Sheriff Paul Petty -- have met with FOP representatives about six times since September, but talks reached a stalemate over contract language.

Mountain hopes for a quick resolution on the contract.

"I think we're really very close to a good contract, good for the county and good for employees," he said. "There's been talk of a three-year, also talk of a five-year (contract). That's still on the table."

The FOP represents deputies, dispatchers, jailers, cook and bailiff, who continue to work under terms of a five-year contract that expired Nov. 30.

That contract, approved in January 2003, called for raises of $1,000 plus 3.5 percent in the first year, $500 and 3.5 percent in each of the next three years and 3.5 percent the final year.

Sheriff's Department employees voted to join the FOP in June 1995, citing job security and wages as reasons to unionize.