MILLCREEK — There's a case of dueling petitions in Millcreek Township. Both petitions could change the makeup of the community in very different ways.

On one side of the issue, a group wants a portion of the township to annex and merge with Holladay. The area stretches from 3900 to 4500 South from Wasatch Boulevard to 2700 East. Holladay City Mayor Dennis Webb said residents who are pushing for annexation feel like their taxes would go down if it happens.

On the other side of the issue, a different group of people want Millcreek to incorporate and become its own city.

Petitions for both of these proposals have already been passed around.

"There is kind of a race between the two [sides] to see who could get the signatures the quickest," Webb said.

He said the annexation camp has already presented the boundaries to the Salt Lake County Council and a feasibility study has already been completed.

"It has been done and approved by the county," he said. "Now they're in the second phase, which is gathering enough signatures required for us, as a city, to review this and make a determination by the city council."

If the neighborhood is annexed, East Mill Creek Community Council Chair Nancy Carlson-Gotts sayid she would be disappointed to lose part of her town to another city. She said people who want to merge with Holladay might believe they don't get enough representation. But she said one county council member lives in the town, and the county has created a committee to look after the needs of people in unincorporated areas of the county.

"I think they listen to our concerns and are now working to address some of those issues," Carlson-Gotts said.

Related:

Bid to incorporate Millcreek fails

Voters in Millcreek Township rejected a ballot question to incorporate four communities into Millcreek City. The question failed 40 percent to 60 percent, according to final but unofficial Salt Lake County election results.

If the move to incorporate Millcreek Township is successful, annexation wouldn't be possible.

So which side is "winning?" That's hard to say. So far, the petition to annex has 318 certified signatures on it. It would need roughly twice that amount before the idea could be officially considered by Holladay. As for incorporation, the Salt Lake County Council rejected the petition that was presented since it also didn't have enough signatures.

A measure to incorporate the town was put on the ballot last November and it failed.

"[Among] the voters, in 2012, it was a resounding 60 percent to 40 percent that said that no, they don't want to incorporate," Carlson-Gotts said.

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