Trustee charged $36K to home improvement stores — presumably for renovations
EDITOR’S Be aware: This is a single of many stories on court-purchased release of Fairfield Township’s credit score card documents and what these credit history card statements expose. On the other hand, Trustee Taletha Coles did not flip in excess of the receipts for the credit rating credit history card purchases and there are missing statements..
LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Fairfield Township Trustee Taletha Coles chalked up her $113,259 in credit score card charges over three decades to her renovations at the township’s business office on Wabash Avenue, but only $36,691.51 can be straight tied to dwelling improvement buys.
A Journal & Courier’s ongoing overview of the courtroom-requested launch of the township’s credit rating card statements confirmed that concerning January 2019 and July 2021, Coles charged $36,691.51 to local home advancement suppliers, as well as to Just Blinds, Best Acquire, and Cork Flooring.
Having said that, there are several months that do not have credit card statements, and there are statements that are only two pages. The paperwork point out there are quite a few missing internet pages that were being not supplied to the general public.
The Journal & Courier emailed Coles for comment about the paying out, which includes extra than $2,000 of buys at Best Buy in March 2020. Coles did not answer.
In May 2019, Coles charged $984 to Just Blinds, presumably for the township’s office. She also charged far more than $1,300 that month to Nationwide Enterprise Home furnishings. In June 2019, Coles billed $2,652.59 to Cork Flooring and $700 to Kirklands in Lafayette.
Much more on Taletha Coles: Fairfield Township taxpayers funding trustee’s meditation, massages, on the net learning
The credit card statements show other rates to suppliers that may possibly thrust the renovation totals even increased, but devoid of the receipts, which the J&C asked for, there is certainly no way to get a more correct accounting.
The Indiana Point out Law enforcement and the Condition Board of Accounts are investigating the township’s funds since Coles turned trustee in January 2019.
Coles was working for re-election Tuesday in the Democratic primary. She faced levels of competition from Fairfield Township Board associates Rocky Hession and Monica Casanova.
Republican Fairfield Township trustee applicant April O’Brien is running unopposed and will confront the Democratic principal winner.
In the earlier, Coles blamed her superior credit history card paying — which include frequent buys at the Lafayette Sam’s Club — on the renovations. The Journal & Courier did not include any Sam’s Club buys in the overall described currently for the reason that there are not indications that the Sam’s Club purchases experienced just about anything to do with renovations.
Expending: Fairfield Township trustee billed $41K on credit history card in 2021
In its Sept. 17, 2021, request to inspect public documents, The Journal & Courier asked for to examine credit history card receipts as well as credit rating card statements.
The Journal & Courier submitted a lawsuit on March 17, 2022, for Coles to create the requested files. Coles supplied some month-to-month credit card statements, but there are internet pages lacking and months missing from these statements.
Reach Ron Wilkins at [email protected] Adhere to on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.
This short article initially appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Lafayette trustee billed $36K to residence enhancement merchants