Attorneys for the city of Lithonia and Mayor Joyce McKibben tried Tuesday to work out a way to get the mayor back into her city office —but they failed.

Now, the question of whether city police officers can continue monitoring McKibben while she works in her office will likely be rolled into a lawsuit pending in DeKalb Superior Court, asking a judge to decide on the scope of the mayor's powers.

Antavius Weems, McKibben's private attorney, has requested an expedited hearing on the lawsuit rising out of an ongoing power struggle between the mayor and the city council. Weems said the problems have kept the city at a near-standstill for a month.

"My understanding is, they are not allowing her full access to things in her office," Weems said. "They are preventing the mayor of Lithonia from conducting business."

McKibben has not worked in her office since April 7, after a heated meeting with the city council, leading the council to change the locks on City Hall.

Police have been stationed outside the city hall annex, where McKibben's locked office is located, after reports that the mayor and her staff appeared to shredding documents.

Interim City Attorney Debra Golymbieski said she had sent a letter for McKibben to sign, promising to safeguard public records and property. "The police are taking reasonable measures to safeguard public property that remains inside the building," Golymbieski said.

McKibben did not sign the letter, on Weems' advice. The mayor said she had tried to enter her office as recently as Monday but felt intimidated by the police presence.

Weems said the shredding accusations were false and a way for the city to continue to interfere with McKibben's ability to do her duty.

McKibben said some of the items in her office include responses for bids to conduct city audits for 2006 and 2007 as well as bids for filling positions for city attorney and accountant. Hiring on those issues has been delayed, though the council is slated to take up the audit issue at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.