COMMERCIAL POINT, OH – Tensions surrounding a major annexation proposal have led to political upheaval in the Village of Commercial Point, where Mayor Allan D. Goldhardt abruptly resigned from office this week, citing frustrations with members of the village council.
Goldhardt’s resignation comes as the village pushes forward with a proposed 344-acre annexation in Scioto Township that would allow a developer to construct up to 1,200 homes. The development deal, estimated at over $30 million, has been the subject of intense public scrutiny and heated debate in recent months.
In a sharply worded resignation letter, Goldhardt did not mince words about his reasons for stepping down.
“I feel the problem stems from some of our current council members who are not willing to invest the time needed to perform their duties,” Goldhardt wrote. “This is very obvious by the way they have shown up unprepared at the meetings, do not understand what is being discussed, and sometimes do not even understand what they are voting on. Some have even shown a complete lack of respect for their position by not even taking the time to dress properly for a public meeting.”
Following Goldhardt’s departure, Councilwoman Nancy Geiger—previously a vocal opponent of the large-scale development—has stepped in as the village’s new mayor. Geiger emphasized her desire to maintain Commercial Point’s small-town charm, while still managing growth responsibly.
“I love Commercial Point because of its small-town feel,” Geiger said. “That’s what makes this place special, and I want to make sure we handle development in a way that preserves that.”
With Geiger’s move to the mayor’s office, a seat on the village council is now open. Interested residents are invited to submit a cover letter and résumé by July 1, 2025, to [email protected]. Council will consider applicants and may make an appointment during its regular meeting on July 7, 2025.
Meanwhile, the annexation process continues. A special council meeting has been scheduled for June 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the Commercial Point Municipal Building, where council will discuss Resolution 22-2025, a measure to adopt a formal statement of services for the proposed annexation of the 344.391-acre tract.
Services for the annexation road were the major hang-up in the latest Scioto Township meeting, where a shared roadway was discussed. The Township’s lawyer told the Trustees that out of the seven items they could legally object to in the special annexation, the roadway was the only one. If this resolution would adopt this statement of services for the proposed Annexation, Scioto Township may not have the legal ability to oppose the Annexation, sending the paperwork forward to the Pickaway County Commissioners for final say. In April, the Commissioners turned down the proposal.
The meeting will also feature a presentation from Bricker & Graydon LLP on how tax incentives work—an important topic as village leaders weigh the costs and benefits of the development project.
