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

EDITOR’S Observe: This is 1 of quite a few studies on court docket-ordered release of Fairfield Township’s credit history card information and what these credit rating card statements expose. However, Trustee Taletha Coles did not transform over the receipts for the credit score credit rating card buys and there are missing statements..

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Fairfield Township Trustee Taletha Coles chalked up her $113,259 in credit history card costs in excess of a few several years to her renovations at the township’s office environment on Wabash Avenue, but only $36,691.51 can be straight tied to home enhancement buys.

A Journal & Courier’s ongoing evaluate of the court docket-purchased release of the township’s credit score card statements showed that among January 2019 and July 2021, Coles billed $36,691.51 to regional house enhancement shops, as perfectly as to Just Blinds, Finest Invest in, and Cork Floors.

On the other hand, there are a number of months that do not have credit history card statements, and there are statements that are only two web pages. The documents point out there are several lacking internet pages that had been not presented to the general public.

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

In May 2019, Coles charged $984 to Just Blinds, presumably for the township’s business. She also charged additional than $1,300 that month to Countrywide Organization 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 show other expenses to suppliers that may well thrust the renovation totals even bigger, but without having the receipts, which the J&C requested, there is no way to get a additional exact accounting.

The Indiana Condition Law enforcement and the State Board of Accounts are investigating the township’s finances due to the fact Coles grew to become trustee in January 2019.

Story carries on

Coles was functioning for re-election Tuesday in the Democratic most important. She confronted competitiveness from Fairfield Township Board users Rocky Hession and Monica Casanova.

Republican Fairfield Township trustee candidate April O’Brien is managing unopposed and will experience the Democratic key winner.

In the earlier, Coles blamed her superior credit history card paying out — including 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 total claimed currently due to the fact there are not indications that the Sam’s Club buys experienced just about anything to do with renovations.

Paying out: Fairfield Township trustee billed $41K on credit rating card in 2021

In its Sept. 17, 2021, request to examine general public paperwork, The Journal & Courier asked for to examine credit score card receipts as perfectly as credit score card statements.

The Journal & Courier submitted a lawsuit on March 17, 2022, for Coles to deliver the requested paperwork. Coles supplied some regular credit rating card statements, but there are web pages missing and months lacking from these statements.

Achieve Ron Wilkins at [email protected]. Stick to on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.

This write-up initially appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Lafayette trustee charged $36K to dwelling enhancement merchants