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

EDITOR’S Observe: This is a person of a number of reviews on court-requested release of Fairfield Township’s credit card data and what these credit card statements reveal. Having said that, Trustee Taletha Coles did not flip about the receipts for the credit credit card purchases and there are lacking statements..

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Fairfield Township Trustee Taletha Coles chalked up her $113,259 in credit rating card expenses more than 3 a long time to her renovations at the township’s office environment on Wabash Avenue, but only $36,691.51 can be right tied to property enhancement purchases.

A Journal & Courier’s ongoing review of the court docket-requested launch of the township’s credit history card statements confirmed that in between January 2019 and July 2021, Coles billed $36,691.51 to regional residence improvement suppliers, as properly as to Just Blinds, Best Get, and Cork Flooring.

On the other hand, there are various months that do not have credit history card statements, and there are statements that are only two pages. The paperwork indicate there are a number of lacking internet pages that have been not supplied to the public.

The Journal & Courier emailed Coles for remark about the spending, like additional than $2,000 of buys at Most effective Obtain in March 2020. Coles did not respond.

In Could 2019, Coles charged $984 to Just Blinds, presumably for the township’s place of work. She also charged far more than $1,300 that thirty day period to Countrywide Business Home furniture. In June 2019, Coles charged $2,652.59 to Cork Flooring and $700 to Kirklands in Lafayette.

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The credit history card statements reveal other prices to stores that may possibly force the renovation totals even better, but without the receipts, which the J&C asked for, you will find no way to get a additional precise accounting.

The Indiana Condition Police and the Point out Board of Accounts are investigating the township’s funds considering that Coles grew to become trustee in January 2019.

Tale continues

Coles was managing for re-election Tuesday in the Democratic primary. She faced level of competition from Fairfield Township Board members Rocky Hession and Monica Casanova.

Republican Fairfield Township trustee applicant April O’Brien is functioning unopposed and will face the Democratic main winner.

In the past, Coles blamed her higher credit score card spending — which includes frequent buys at the Lafayette Sam’s Club — on the renovations. The Journal & Courier did not consist of any Sam’s Club buys in the complete claimed nowadays simply because there are not indications that the Sam’s Club purchases experienced anything at all to do with renovations.

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

In its Sept. 17, 2021, ask for to inspect general public paperwork, The Journal & Courier requested to inspect credit card receipts as perfectly as credit rating card statements.

The Journal & Courier filed a lawsuit on March 17, 2022, for Coles to deliver the asked for paperwork. Coles provided some regular monthly credit history card statements, but there are internet pages lacking and months missing from all those statements.

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

This posting at first appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Lafayette trustee charged $36K to home advancement outlets