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

EDITOR’S Be aware: This is a single of various stories on court-purchased launch of Fairfield Township’s credit score card documents and what these credit rating card statements reveal. However, Trustee Taletha Coles did not change more than the receipts for the credit rating credit score card purchases and there are lacking statements..

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

A Journal & Courier’s ongoing overview of the court docket-requested release of the township’s credit score card statements showed that amongst January 2019 and July 2021, Coles charged $36,691.51 to neighborhood home enhancement suppliers, as well as to Just Blinds, Most effective Obtain, and Cork Floors.

Nevertheless, there are quite a few months that do not have credit rating card statements, and there are statements that are only two internet pages. The paperwork indicate there are a number of missing pages that ended up not delivered to the community.

The Journal & Courier emailed Coles for comment about the paying, together with a lot more than $2,000 of purchases at Greatest Get in March 2020. Coles did not reply.

In May well 2019, Coles billed $984 to Just Blinds, presumably for the township’s office environment. She also charged a lot more than $1,300 that thirty day period to Nationwide Company Home furnishings. In June 2019, Coles billed $2,652.59 to Cork Flooring and $700 to Kirklands in Lafayette.

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The credit card statements suggest other charges to stores that may well thrust the renovation totals even increased, but with out the receipts, which the J&C asked for, you will find no way to get a additional accurate accounting.

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

Story continues

Coles was running for re-election Tuesday in the Democratic main. She faced opposition from Fairfield Township Board members Rocky Hession and Monica Casanova.

Republican Fairfield Township trustee candidate April O’Brien is operating unopposed and will confront the Democratic major winner.

In the previous, Coles blamed her substantial credit card investing — including normal buys at the Lafayette Sam’s Club — on the renovations. The Journal & Courier did not involve any Sam’s Club purchases in the overall described currently for the reason that there are not indications that the Sam’s Club buys had something to do with renovations.

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

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

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

Access Ron Wilkins at [email protected]. Adhere to on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.

This post at first appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Lafayette trustee billed $36K to property improvement stores