Questions Put Indiana Department’s Firetruck in Limbo

A southern Indiana volunteer fire department has parked its new $287,000 firetruck as officials try to sort out whether the former township trustee properly handled its purchase.

An attorney for Monroe County’s Benton Township says he can’t find any evidence that former trustee Heather Cohee advertised a public notice for residents to object to the purchase since a tax increase would be needed.

Current trustee Michelle Bright tells The Herald-Times she’s working with the bank that financed the truck’s purchase on what to do.

Cohee resigned as trustee in March after a state audit accused her of misusing $97,000. A phone number for Cohee wasn’t listed to reach her for comment.

Bright says firefighters are using other trucks to respond to calls in the area northeast of Bloomington.