Topeka ? Shawnee County hasn’t been able to work out a contract with its sheriff’s deputies.

County counselor Rich Eckert told The Topeka Capital-Journal that rank-and-file deputies in the county now continue to work under provisions of their contract that was to have expired Dec. 31, 2010. He said the disagreement was over wages but didn’t go into further detail.

The county and the Fraternal Order of Police, which represents deputies with the rank of sergeant and below in contract talks, have met with a mediator but were unable to reach agreement.

The two sides now will arrange through the Kansas Public Employee Relations Board to have their separate arguments heard by a fact-finder. Bit Eckert said that hearing hasn’t been scheduled.