And score a new name in the process: Millcreek City.

Millcreek, a sprawling township of 65,000-plus people, has to decide by 2010 whether it wants to remain unincorporated, form its own city or join up with a neighbor - possibly South Salt Lake.

The blue-collar city has begun courting the bedroom community, according to county and township officials.

South Salt Lake City Attorney Dave Carlson recently met with Millcreek representatives, said Mount Olympus Community Council Chairman Jeff Silvestrini, to tout the benefits: The city's large commercial base and the township's population could make the perfect marriage.

"It is an intriguing possibility," said Silvestrini, noting it could save Millcreek the start-up costs - and property-tax hike - needed to incorporate by itself. "I want to see some feasibility numbers."

Millcreek will hold a town hall meeting March 18 to consider its options, and residents will receive a survey in the next several weeks asking them to help determine the community's fate. A law governing townships expires in 2010, and the Legislature is looking for guidance.

"It's kind of incumbent on the residents to look at all of the possibilities - and there are many," said Rita Lund, Salt Lake County's liaison to east-side townships.

But South Salt Lake appears to be the only neighboring city that has expressed an interest in annexing the township, which runs from the Jordan River to upscale Olympus Cove, instead of cherry-picking certain portions.

"That's why this is a remarkable proposal," said Silvestrini, adding that Millcreek residents would, by sheer numbers, have a louder voice than South Salt Lake's 21,000 residents. "It involves ceding control of their destiny to other people."

Carlson - who pitched the idea of christening the blended municipality "Millcreek City," according to people at the annexation discussion - and South Salt Lake Mayor Bob Gray did not return repeated phone calls seeking comment.

South Salt Lake took a major revenue hit a few years ago when the Legislature began using city populations to divvy up a portion of sales tax.

"The business model that the city of South Salt Lake has followed for the past several years is broken," said Bob Springmeyer, president of Bonneville Research, which has been a consultant for the city. "South Salt Lake needs to look at what kind of changes they have to make if they're going to stay a viable community. One of the things they need, quite frankly, is population. . . . [Millcreek has] population but they don't have a retail base or a commercial or industrial base."

South Salt Lake has toyed with the idea of a name change before, said City Councilman Shane Siwik, so he is not opposed to scrapping the 80-year-old city's label.

"There is some merit to looking at [the annexation]," he said, "But I think it has to be a win-win for both communities before we pursue real serious discussion about it."

The City Council has yet to discuss the issue, but it would have to agree to annexation before it could be pursued. Millcreek residents would get a say, too. By state law, a majority of them would have to vote in favor of the merger.

Anne Call, who has lived in Millcreek for 60 years, would not be one of them. She's happy with county governance.

"As far as I'm concerned, [South Salt Lake] can go jump," she said. "We're getting along fine."

rwinters@sltrib.com

* When: March 18, open house at 6 p.m., panel discussion at 7 p.m.

* Where: Skyline High, 3251 E. 3760 South.

* What: Learn about Millcreek's options for incorporating, being annexed into a neighboring city or remaining a township.

* Who: Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon, County Councilmen Mark Crockett and Randy Horiuchi and representatives from Millcreek, South Salt Lake, Holladay and Salt Lake City will speak in a panel discussion.

* Information: http://www.millcreektownship.org