Rush Township’s road project will cost nearly $700,000.

That’s after the township’s board of supervisors unanimously agreed on Thursday to award the project to Lehigh Asphalt Paving & Construction Co. of Tamaqua, in the amount of $694,061, contingent upon the review of its engineer.In what proved to be a tight bidding contest, that proposal was just $2,465 less than the next lowest bid of $696,526 turned in by Livengood Excavators Inc., and $3,207 less than the $697,268 amount sent in by Hazleton Site Contractors.Other companies that bid were EJB Paving & Material Co. ($749,267); Pennsy Supply Inc. ($851,827); and Doli Construction Corporation ($924,695).The roads that are included in the project include Bnosky, Meadow, Mariner, Grove, Purnell, Chestnut, Ridge, Wayne and Hunter.Township engineer Bill McMullen said the estimated cost of the project before bids came in was about $630,000, but added that up to $770,000 was available if necessary.Other businessIn other action, supervisors:• Hired Christopher Hamilton, Matthew Houser and Lynn York II as part-time police officers, at a pay rate of $17 an hour.• Agreed to give all seasonal drivers a pay rate of $15, retroactive to Feb. 4.• Approved a request for a three-year project activity completion extension on the township’s Community Development Block Grant.• Authorized Arro Engineering to advertise bids for the use of equipment for 2016 road department work.• Appointed Lettich and Zipay, CPA, to audit, settle, or adjust Rush Township accounts for the 2015 fiscal year.• Agreed to allow the township’s fire police to assist with traffic control at the Girardville St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 19.