EDITOR’S Be aware: This is one of quite a few reports on court docket-ordered release of Fairfield Township’s credit card information and what these credit history card statements reveal. Nevertheless, Trustee Taletha Coles did not convert about the receipts for the credit rating credit history 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 a few a long time to her renovations at the township’s office on Wabash Avenue, but only $36,691.51 can be straight tied to dwelling enhancement buys.
A Journal & Courier’s ongoing evaluate of the courtroom-purchased release of the township’s credit score card statements showed that concerning January 2019 and July 2021, Coles billed $36,691.51 to nearby property enhancement merchants, as properly as to Just Blinds, Best Buy, and Cork Floors.
Having said that, there are quite a few months that do not have credit history card statements, and there are statements that are only two pages. The files reveal there are various lacking internet pages that have been not furnished to the general public.
The Journal & Courier emailed Coles for remark about the spending, together with a lot more than $2,000 of purchases at Greatest Acquire in March 2020. Coles did not react.
In Might 2019, Coles charged $984 to Just Blinds, presumably for the township’s office. She also billed far more than $1,300 that month to Nationwide Organization Home furnishings. In June 2019, Coles charged $2,652.59 to Cork Floors and $700 to Kirklands in Lafayette.
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The credit history card statements indicate other charges to suppliers that could press the renovation totals even bigger, but without having the receipts, which the J&C asked for, there is no way to get a additional correct accounting.
The Indiana State Law enforcement and the State Board of Accounts are investigating the township’s finances due to the fact Coles became trustee in January 2019.
Coles was functioning for re-election Tuesday in the Democratic main. She faced opposition from Fairfield Township Board customers Rocky Hession and Monica Casanova.
Republican Fairfield Township trustee prospect April O’Brien is operating unopposed and will face the Democratic most important winner.
In the past, Coles blamed her high credit score card spending — including standard buys at the Lafayette Sam’s Club — on the renovations. The Journal & Courier did not contain any Sam’s Club purchases in the overall reported these days simply because there are not indications that the Sam’s Club buys had everything to do with renovations.
Investing:Fairfield Township trustee billed $41K on credit card in 2021
In its Sept. 17, 2021, request to inspect community documents, The Journal & Courier asked for to examine credit rating card receipts as very well as credit card statements.
The Journal & Courier filed a lawsuit on March 17, 2022, for Coles to create the asked for files. Coles offered some regular monthly credit score card statements, but there are webpages missing and months missing from all those statements.
Achieve Ron Wilkins at [email protected]. Adhere to on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.
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