The township supervisors have refinanced the Rush Township municipal building, a move that will save them $442,073 over 15 years.

Chairman Shawn Gilbert said that the original loan, from 2004, financed $730,000 at 4.7 percent for 40 years. The township owed $660,000 with 31 years left to make payments.The new loan, through Riverview Bank, Orwigsburg, is 2.4 percent for a 15-year term. The supervisors approved the change unanimously during their meeting Thursday.Gilbert said after the meeting that the board plans to take action to collect delinquent sewer and garbage bills as soon as totals are figured at the end of the year's first quarter.Last month the supervisors set a schedule of late fees and penalties to be assessed on the bills. A $50 late fee will be assessed on every overdue sewer bill, and an administrative fee of $20 will be charged each month the bill remains unpaid.The same late fee schedule will be in effect for unpaid garbage bills, which are $180 per year and due by the end of April.Rush Township will launch a curbside recycling program beginning March 3. The recycling containers will be delivered beginning Feb. 24, and recycling will be collected on the resident's regular garbage pickup day.In other action the supervisors:• Donated $600 to the Tamaqua Library.• Directed township engineer Bill McMullen and attorney Chris Reidlinger to draft a property maintenance ordinance for the township.