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MILLCREEK — Five months after a bid failed that would have incorporated Millcreek communities into a city, some residents are proposing annexing the area to Holladay.
Residents of the area disagree on how best to move into Millcreek's future. Some filed an intent to be annexed into Salt Lake City, and others starting making plans to incorporate in 2014. Uneasy with those options, a third group has filed a notice of intent to be annexed into Holladay.
The annexation would only be a part of Millcreek, though, extending from I-215 west to 2700 East, and in between 4500 South to 3900 South. That reaches about 1,400 people.
Millcreek resident John Bradshaw said he wants that area of Millcreek to be annexed into Holladay for the sense of community it would provide.
"The people who have lived in our area for a long period of time still think they're part of Holladay, now," he said. "Why do we only want our own little area? It's not controversial. We have very little commercial space."
People against the annexation say it is controversial, though, and they want to keep the community intact.
"What we don't want to do is just have bits and pieces taken out," said Millcreek resident Fred Healey. "We want to remain the integrity and the community of the township as it exists, and the only way to do that is to see that the community stays together."
Bradshaw said the annexation would save neighbors money: Owners of a home in Holladay assessed at $300,000 would pay just over $295 in taxes, compared to their current $684 in Millcreek.
The mayor of Holladay says the economic impact to his city would need to be evaluated.
"Hopefully, the property taxes that they would bring in would offset the services that would need to be provided, but that's one of the things we'll be looking at in the petition," said Holladay Mayor Dennis Webb.
Webb thinks it will pass, and Bradshaw believes it will secure their area's future in an uncertain time for Millcreek Township.
City officials in Holladay will send a notice to all neighbors in Millcreek. The petition must be signed by 51 percent of residents. Webb said he thinks they could have a decision in 6–8 months.
