EDITOR’S Notice: This is one of several reviews on court docket-requested launch of Fairfield Township’s credit card data and what these credit card statements expose. However, Trustee Taletha Coles did not switch in excess of the receipts for the credit credit score card purchases and there are lacking statements..
LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Fairfield Township Trustee Taletha Coles chalked up her $113,259 in credit card charges more than three yrs to her renovations at the township’s place of work on Wabash Avenue, but only $36,691.51 can be straight tied to residence advancement purchases.
A Journal & Courier’s ongoing evaluation of the court docket-requested launch of the township’s credit score card statements showed that amongst January 2019 and July 2021, Coles charged $36,691.51 to neighborhood dwelling improvement outlets, as well as to Just Blinds, Best Buy, and Cork Floors.
Having said that, there are many months that do not have credit score card statements, and there are statements that are only two pages. The files indicate there are several lacking webpages that had been not offered to the general public.
The Journal & Courier emailed Coles for remark about the paying out, such as far more than $2,000 of buys at Finest Obtain in March 2020. Coles did not react.
In May 2019, Coles billed $984 to Just Blinds, presumably for the township’s place of work. She also billed additional than $1,300 that thirty day period to National Organization Home furnishings. 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 indicate other fees to suppliers that could possibly force the renovation totals even better, but without the receipts, which the J&C requested, there is certainly no way to get a additional precise accounting.
The Indiana Condition Police and the State Board of Accounts are investigating the township’s funds considering the fact that Coles grew to become trustee in January 2019.
Coles was running for re-election Tuesday in the Democratic most important. She faced levels of competition from Fairfield Township Board members Rocky Hession and Monica Casanova.
Republican Fairfield Township trustee candidate April O’Brien is working unopposed and will face the Democratic principal winner.
In the past, Coles blamed her high credit card spending — which includes frequent purchases at the Lafayette Sam’s Club — on the renovations. The Journal & Courier did not consist of any Sam’s Club purchases in the whole noted now because there are not indications that the Sam’s Club buys had something to do with renovations.
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In its Sept. 17, 2021, request to inspect community documents, The Journal & Courier requested to inspect credit card receipts as properly as credit card statements.
The Journal & Courier filed a lawsuit on March 17, 2022, for Coles to produce the asked for files. Coles supplied some regular credit card statements, but there are internet pages lacking and months missing from those people statements.
Reach Ron Wilkins at [email protected]. Adhere to on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.
