Trustee charged $36K to home improvement stores — presumably for renovations

EDITOR’S Notice: This is one particular of a number of reviews on court docket-requested release of Fairfield Township’s credit history card documents and what these credit history card statements expose. However, Trustee Taletha Coles did not turn about the receipts for the credit rating credit score card buys and there are missing statements..

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Fairfield Township Trustee Taletha Coles chalked up her $113,259 in credit history card rates over 3 several years to her renovations at the township’s business office on Wabash Avenue, but only $36,691.51 can be immediately tied to property enhancement buys.

A Journal & Courier’s ongoing evaluation of the court docket-requested launch of the township’s credit score card statements confirmed that concerning January 2019 and July 2021, Coles charged $36,691.51 to local home improvement outlets, as effectively as to Just Blinds, Finest Buy, and Cork Floors.

On the other hand, there are numerous months that do not have credit history card statements, and there are statements that are only two internet pages. The documents indicate there are a number of lacking web pages that ended up not presented to the public.

The Journal & Courier emailed Coles for remark about the spending, which includes additional than $2,000 of purchases at Very best Buy in March 2020. Coles did not reply.

In Could 2019, Coles billed $984 to Just Blinds, presumably for the township’s business. She also charged extra than $1,300 that thirty day period to National Organization Home furniture. In June 2019, Coles billed $2,652.59 to Cork Floors and $700 to Kirklands in Lafayette.

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The credit rating card statements reveal other prices to stores that may well push the renovation totals even better, but devoid of the receipts, which the J&C requested, there is no way to get a a lot more accurate accounting.

The Indiana Point out Law enforcement and the Condition Board of Accounts are investigating the township’s funds due to the fact Coles became trustee in January 2019.

Story proceeds

Coles was managing for re-election Tuesday in the Democratic primary. She confronted competitors from Fairfield Township Board users Rocky Hession and Monica Casanova.

Republican Fairfield Township trustee candidate April O’Brien is running unopposed and will face the Democratic most important winner.

In the earlier, Coles blamed her higher credit card paying — such as normal purchases at the Lafayette Sam’s Club — on the renovations. The Journal & Courier did not include things like any Sam’s Club purchases in the complete reported now since there are not indications that the Sam’s Club purchases had nearly anything to do with renovations.

Spending: Fairfield Township trustee charged $41K on credit history card in 2021

In its Sept. 17, 2021, ask for to examine public documents, The Journal & Courier requested to examine credit score card receipts as perfectly as credit rating card statements.

The Journal & Courier filed a lawsuit on March 17, 2022, for Coles to develop the requested files. Coles furnished some month-to-month credit history card statements, but there are webpages missing and months missing from those statements.

Arrive at Ron Wilkins at [email protected]. Abide by on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.

This short article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Lafayette trustee charged $36K to residence advancement stores