GLASGOW, Ky. — Members of the Glasgow City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance that would provide a tax rebate to a local manufacturer that has expanded its workforce, according to Mayor Henry Royse.

Sharp Carts LLC, located at 121 Carrol Knicely Drive, applied for the rebate through the city as part of its Kentucky Business Investment application, which often requires companies to meet certain hiring or investment benchmarks.

Royse said the Canadian-owned company has operated in Glasgow for about two years and has continued to expand.

“They’ve started up. They’ve hired a lot of people — things of that nature,” Royse said. “It’s just now to the point in their development that they want to take advantage of the savings on the occupational tax.”

Barren Inc. Executive Director Maureen Carpenter said Sharp Carts manufactures and refurbishes shopping carts for customers such as Walmart and Costco, with its process also including a powder coating finish.

The mayor added that the company is producing so many carts that it is renting additional space to store products until they can be shipped out.

Councilmember Randy Wilkinson asked several questions about the company, saying he was unaware the business existed. He also asked how many people the company employs, and Royse estimated the workforce at between 80 and 100 employees.

Cities commonly offer payroll tax rebates and similar incentives to encourage businesses to locate, expand and create jobs in the community.

“It is a very effective tool in recruiting industry,” Royse said.

Glasgow imposes a 1.75% payroll tax on employee wages. Under the ordinance, the company would continue paying the full 1.75% tax, but the city would rebate 1% back to the company for 10 years, according to City Attorney Rich Alexander.

Royse said the ordinance had been prepared for some time, but the company is now ready to begin using the incentive. The measure requires a second reading before it can become law.

The first reading passed unanimously.

In other business, Nate Johnson was sworn in as the newest firefighter with the Glasgow Fire Department during a ceremony attended by family members, who presented him with his pins.

“I appreciate Nate’s commitment to service, his eagerness to learn and his strong work ethic,” Chief Lucas Tinsley said.

Councilmembers also approved the first reading of an ordinance rezoning approximately 1.9 acres at 512 East Main Street from an R-2 medium-density residential district to an R-4 medium-density multi-family residential district.

The zoning change was requested by Kenneth Ford, who plans to add three four-plex buildings to the property, creating 12 additional housing units, according to information presented during the April 20 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.

Finally, councilmembers reappointed Byron Sorrell to the Glasgow-Barren County Tourist and Convention Commission for a three-year term and Beth Wagner to the Historic Preservation Commission for a two-year term.

Tuesday’s meeting was specially called after the council’s regular meeting date fell on Memorial Day. The Glasgow City Council normally meets at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month.