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Rick Sharp
President
Carmel City Council - Northwest Region
Phone: (317) 691-1300
E-mail: rsharp@carmel.in.gov
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Rick was born in Elyria, OH in 1955 but grew up in Hollywood, FL. He graduated from Chaminade High School in Hollywood and attended St. John Vianney Minor Seminary in Miami from 1973 thru 1974. Reaching the decision that the priesthood was not his calling, he transferred to the University of Florida. Rick is a graduate of UF with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.
After college, Rick worked in the field of Property Management for nearly 13 years. His last position was as Senior Vice-President for a major development and management company in South Florida.
Rick, his wife Susan and daughter Sara moved to Carmel in 1992. Rick left the sunny South for Indiana to assist in his father-in-law’s business, Miller Sales Corporation. Miller Sales Corporation is a distributor of commercial laundry equipment, principally Maytag, and Rick has served as President since 2000. He sold the majority of the Corporations assets in 2009 to Great Lakes Commercial Sales, also a distributor of commercial laundry products. Today, in addition to a continuing role with a smaller Miller Sales, he serves as a sales consultant for Great Lakes Commercial Sales.
Rick became involved in public issues in Carmel early on when he became President of the Thistlewood Homeowners Association, a post he held from 1993-1997. Representing his neighborhood, he became involved with a coalition of neighborhood groups united to oppose the development of a proposed apartment project. Rick was one of the principal speakers representing the coalition’s position before the Board of Zoning Appeals. The group was successful and the Windsor Regency Apartments were denied by the BZA.
Rick and Susan’s family had now grown with daughters Brenna and Rachel, joining sister Sara. Needing a little more room, they moved to Springmill Crossing in 1999. Rick joined the board of the Springmill Crossing Property Owners Association and served as President in 2001.
Sara is a graduate of Carmel High School, Furman University in Greenville, SC and is currently studying law at the University of Florida. Brenna graduated from Carmel High School and is a freshman at IU. Rachel is in her first year, though a sophomore, at Culver Girls Academy.
Rick was appointed by John Hensel, longtime Township Trustee, to serve on the Carmel-Clay Plan commission and served from 1996 through 1999. During his tenure he was Chair of the Commission’s Special Studies Committee for most of his term on the Commission. Serving in this capacity provided Rick the opportunity to have input in developing the update to the Carmel Comprehensive Plan, the initiation of the US 31 corridor task force and the development of the US 421 Overlay in addition to other noteworthy projects.
Rick was appointed by the Carmel City Council to serve on the Carmel Redevelopment Commission in 2003. This Commission guides the development of the City Center project, a public\private partnership that has resulted in a new commercial and cultural heart for Carmel. The Commission is also responsible for the development of the Art’s and Design District and the building of the Palladium and the Performing Arts Center. Rick served numerous terms until his resignation in 2009.
During his tenure on the council, Rick has continuously served in a leadership position. He has, at various times, served as Chair of the Land Use, Annexation and Economic Development Committee; Chair of the Parks, Arts and Recreation Committee and three times has been honored by his colleagues with their selection as Council President.
Rick has been a key player in several of the pivotal issues addressed by the council that have contributed to establishing the vision of Carmel that contributes to our success today at attracting business relocations to Carmel and creates jobs. He has successfully gained the support of Mayor Brainard and the rest of the Council for nearly 100 million dollars in road, intersection and drainage improvements in his District. Rick, along with Councilor Ron Carter, championed the funding to build the Hagan-Burke Trail, which runs from 146th Street and eventually ties to the Monon Trail providing one more link in our alternative transportation network.
Rick has been an advocate for the citizens of Carmel, especially for those constituents in his District. He has consistently worked with area developers to retain the character that epitomizes west Carmel and has vigorously fought attempts to add any additional commercial or retail development along Town Road. Perhaps his most important achievement has been working with his fellow council members and Mayor Brainard to keep Carmel taxes among the lowest in the state.
Rick and the Council have contributed to the fiscal restraint now being exhibited in Carmel. We can build the community we want but we must do so within our means and at a sustainable pace. One example is Keystone Parkway; with the Councils involvement and resolve the originally proposed cost overrun of 50 million dollars was substantially reduced. Carmel has a parkway to envy and the Council pared the new debt down to about 12 million. This represents the how we grow creative infrastructure while employing fiscal restraint.
Rick has been involved in many community-related, non-political activities. These include membership on the Carmel Swim Club Board of Directors from 2000 through 2003 serving as president of the Board in 2003, working as a certified USA Swimming Referee and he was a member of the Carmel-Clay Kiwanis. Rick also enjoys singing solos at Sunday Church service and performing in various roles with several local community theatres.