Rush Township will partner with its neighbors in Ryan Township to purchase equipment.

Rush supervisors voted Thursday to split the cost of a John Deere 6M tractor and Mowmaster mower from Deer Country Farm & Lawn with Ryan Township.

The cost is not to exceed $198,000 plus financing.

Rush supervisors voted unanimously in favor of the joint purchase, conditional upon obtaining financing approval and an inspection by the township road foreman.

PennDOT must also approve the purchase, which will be covered in part with Liquid Fuels funds.

The townships will share the equipment.

“It’s a benefit between Ryan (and Rush),” Rush board Chairman Shawn Gilbert said.

In an unrelated matter, supervisors assigned the township’s trash collection and recycling contract to Cassella Waste Systems.

Cassella Waste is purchasing Tamaqua Transfer & Recycling Inc., which currently holds the contract.

Settlement is expected Aug. 1.

Gilbert said no changes in trash collection or recycling are expected after Cassella takes over.

Rush Township is in its first year of a five-year contract with Tamaqua Transfer.

Supervisors also granted a time extension until Oct. 31 for the recycling facility fencing contract with ProMax Fencing Systems.