You didn't think Sterling Heights' M59 Golden Corridor icon would be called "The Golden Butthole of Macomb County" forever, did you?

(Of course, you didn't!)

So what do you think the 35-foot-by-35-foot gold ring in the median of M59/Hall Road should be called?

On Monday, the city announced an official contest to name the icon near Lakeside Mall that has been the butt of jokes — and some anger — on social media.

You have until 5 p.m. Friday to submit a name by filling out a form at https://bit.ly/2HugazJ. Three ideas per person; and you have to include your name, age and address. You must be a Michigan resident.

The city will choose its three favorite submitted names and create a Facebook poll to be shared with the public and open for voting March 25 through March 28. The name and winner will be announced March 29, according to the city.

The icon has been called some unmentionable names and now has a couple of satirical Facebook pages, including one called "The Golden Butthole of Macomb County," which grew to 9,000 likes by mid-February.

Another imaginative type created a Facebook event, Ride the Golden Butthole at the 2019 Sterlingfest, complete with a photo of the giant ring transformed into a roller coaster ride.

The city posted the contest on its Facebook page Monday and within an hour it had 171 comments — a mix of support, those suggesting names and those fuming about its presence and price tag. One comment stated, in part, "People will always call it 'the Golden butthole'" despite its official name.

"Hey! Have you noticed anything new lately on Hall Road?" the city Facebook post began. "Kidding, kidding. Of course you have! And while we prefer to keep things PG around here, we have heard of the golden ring icon’s … unsavory nickname. (Do you all kiss your mom with that mouth?)"

It then went about the OFFICIAL NAMING CONTEST, in which businesses along the corridor have donated more than $1,000 in gift cards to be given away.

"Be a part of history and help us name the golden ring icon," the city's post continued, adding to "keep it clean." "Because, like it or not, this thing ain’t going anywhere, people."

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The icon was completed in January, and many folks have been grousing at the cost since.

The large ring monument and two welcome signs — which say "Sterling Heights Golden Corridor," with a similar, smaller circle icon — cost $339,350, according to December 2017 City Council meeting minutes. That's when council discussed and unanimously approved the project.

The large ring cost $180,000. Each of the welcome signs, one at Delco, the other at Hayes, was to cost $85,000, according to the meeting minutes.

City Manager Mark Vanderpool told council the total cost for the signage package was $442,500, with the remaining cost for ancillaries, including electrical work to get the signs hooked up and some engineering and design costs.

The ring is lit up at night — with a report from one passerby last week that it was lit up green, presumably for St. Patrick's Day.

Mayor Michael Taylor told the Free Press in January that while he understands the criticism, the icon is part of a bigger plan to make the city more unique and distinctive, boost business and draw new residents. A way to rebrand itself.

He thought the attention was working; and while officials were being mocked, Taylor said that he believed the city — the state's fourth largest — "is the one who is going to get the last laugh here."

Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @challreporter.