Atlanta’s investigation into former Municipal Clerk Foris Webb III has been extended until January after city employees delayed or declined interviews, interim Inspector General LaDawn Blackett said Tuesday. The city paid Webb $910,000 over just more than two years to help oversee a referendum campaign launched by opponents of Atlanta’s public safety training center. The referendum process was held up in court, and organizers’ tens of thousands of signatures were never counted. Webb continued to bill the city $35,000 a month, according to the reported details of the payments. Blackett said witness participation and scheduling issues have slowed the investigation. She said it remains unclear whether some delays stem from genuine scheduling conflicts or efforts to defer interviews. In-person interviews are a standard part of the office’s work, she said, though investigators have sought written responses to keep the inquiry moving. The office has also faced challenges obtaining records, including emails and other documents. City officials withheld some emails, citing attorney-client privilege. Investigators have requested records from the city and are examining the payments and the work Webb performed. The city’s records included few monthly invoices from Webb, according to the reported findings. Blackett had initially expected to complete the investigation last month. In a written update, she said delays and the need to review evidence had made more time necessary for an independent inquiry. The investigation comes amid broader scrutiny of Atlanta’s oversight of consulting contracts and the inspector general’s ability to investigate city operations. Its findings could clarify what work the city received for the payments and how the referendum effort was managed.