EDITOR’S NOTE: That is one of a number of reviews on court-ordered launch of Fairfield Township’s bank card data and what these bank card statements reveal. Nonetheless, Trustee Taletha Coles didn’t flip over the receipts for the credit score bank card purchases and there are lacking statements..
LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Fairfield Township Trustee Taletha Coles chalked up her $113,259 in bank card expenses over three years to her renovations on the township’s workplace on Wabash Avenue, however solely $36,691.51 will be immediately tied to dwelling enchancment purchases.
A Journal & Courier’s ongoing evaluation of the court-ordered launch of the township’s bank card statements confirmed that between January 2019 and July 2021, Coles charged $36,691.51 to native dwelling enchancment shops, in addition to to Simply Blinds, Greatest Purchase, and Cork Flooring.
Nonetheless, there are a number of months that wouldn’t have bank card statements, and there are statements which might be solely two pages. The paperwork point out there are a number of lacking pages that weren’t offered to the general public.
The Journal & Courier emailed Coles for remark in regards to the spending, together with greater than $2,000 of purchases at Greatest Purchase in March 2020. Coles didn’t reply.
In Could 2019, Coles charged $984 to Simply Blinds, presumably for the township’s workplace. She additionally charged greater than $1,300 that month to Nationwide Enterprise Furnishings. In June 2019, Coles charged $2,652.59 to Cork Flooring and $700 to Kirklands in Lafayette.
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The bank card statements point out different expenses to retailers that may push the renovation totals even increased, however with out the receipts, which the J&C requested, there isn’t any method to get a extra correct accounting.
The Indiana State Police and the State Board of Accounts are investigating the township’s funds since Coles turned trustee in January 2019.
Coles was working for re-election Tuesday within the Democratic major. She confronted competitors from Fairfield Township Board members Rocky Hession and Monica Casanova.
Republican Fairfield Township trustee candidate April O’Brien is working unopposed and can face the Democratic major winner.
Previously, Coles blamed her excessive bank card spending — together with common purchases on the Lafayette Sam’s Membership — on the renovations. The Journal & Courier didn’t embrace any Sam’s Membership purchases within the whole reported in the present day as a result of there aren’t indications that the Sam’s Membership purchases had something to do with renovations.
Spending:Fairfield Township trustee charged $41K on bank card in 2021
In its Sept. 17, 2021, request to examine public paperwork, The Journal & Courier requested to examine bank card receipts in addition to bank card statements.
The Journal & Courier filed a lawsuit on March 17, 2022, for Coles to provide the requested paperwork. Coles offered some month-to-month bank card statements, however there are pages lacking and months lacking from these statements.
Attain Ron Wilkins at [email protected]. Observe on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.