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

EDITOR’S Notice: This is a single of many studies on courtroom-requested launch of Fairfield Township’s credit rating card information and what these credit rating card statements reveal. On the other hand, Trustee Taletha Coles did not switch around the receipts for the credit rating credit card purchases and there are lacking statements..

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Fairfield Township Trustee Taletha Coles chalked up her $113,259 in credit rating card prices around three many years to her renovations at the township’s workplace on Wabash Avenue, but only $36,691.51 can be specifically tied to property advancement buys.

A Journal & Courier’s ongoing evaluate of the court-ordered release of the township’s credit score card statements confirmed that concerning January 2019 and July 2021, Coles charged $36,691.51 to regional household advancement retailers, as nicely as to Just Blinds, Finest Get, and Cork Floors.

On the other hand, there are a number of months that do not have credit rating card statements, and there are statements that are only two pages. The files suggest there are numerous lacking webpages that were being not delivered to the public.

The Journal & Courier emailed Coles for remark about the shelling out, which includes more than $2,000 of purchases at Very best Purchase in March 2020. Coles did not respond.

In May possibly 2019, Coles charged $984 to Just Blinds, presumably for the township’s place of work. She also charged extra than $1,300 that thirty day period to National Small business Furniture. 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 expenses to stores that may force the renovation totals even higher, but with no the receipts, which the J&C requested, you can find no way to get a a lot more accurate accounting.

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

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

Republican Fairfield Township trustee applicant April O’Brien is managing unopposed and will encounter the Democratic major winner.

In the past, Coles blamed her substantial credit card spending — like standard buys at the Lafayette Sam’s Club — on the renovations. The Journal & Courier did not involve any Sam’s Club buys in the whole noted now since there are not indications that the Sam’s Club buys experienced something to do with renovations.

Expending: Fairfield Township trustee billed $41K on credit score card in 2021

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

The Journal & Courier filed a lawsuit on March 17, 2022, for Coles to make the requested documents. Coles provided some month to month credit score card statements, but there are internet pages lacking and months missing from all those statements.

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

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Lafayette trustee billed $36K to house improvement stores