After hovering over the spot that is now the Millington, TN Regional Jetport for decades, the old red and white water tower with FLY NAVY on the side is expected to be dismantled by early next year.

The structure, built in the early 1940s, stands 150 feet tall. It's topped with a 500,000-gallon tank that can be seen from various parts of Millington, particularly along Navy Road approaching the Naval Support Activity Mid-South base.

The tank was kind of a landmark from afar when the Memphis Naval Air Station-Millington operated on both sides of Navy Road. In 1993, when the base's duties changed from technical training to personnel support, Millington got the bulk of the land -- about 1,900 acres -- north of Navy Road.

One of the spots left under the Navy's watch was the land with the water tank because of environmental concerns, said Tracy Williams, executive director of the Millington Regional Jetport.

"It was an icon for a long time," said Mayor Terry Jones, who retired from the Navy and was Base Transition Coordinator in 1995. "(Millington officials) would like to have seen it kept if it could be utilized."

But there were too many hurdles, including the environmental issues. And another water storage tower was built on the south side of the base.

There are several steps still needed before the dismantling and removal, but most agree it is time for the rusting, peeling tower to disappear from the Millington landscape. The navy has hired a contractor to demolish the structure.

"They are trying to execute the contract as efficiently as they possibly can because we are aware this is an eyesore for the City of Millington," David Crenshaw, spokesman for Naval Support Activity Mid-South.

The contract calls for the work to be completed by February, leading Crenshaw to expect it will come down in the next six months.

The timetable has hit a few snags. First, there was the reality that the airport's rotating beacon was atop the tank. Second, the Navy needed approval from the Federal Aviation Administration before they hoisted machinery around the airport that could interfere with planes, said Williams.

Those papers were sent to the Navy a week or so ago.

Williams said relocating the beacon is an easy and quick fix. The FAA clearance will take more time.

The lead-based paint and the cost of getting the tower back into service was too much to justify. For one thing, the structure would need to be raised about 20 feet to coincide with the rest of the city's system.

"It was easier to put in a new tank," the mayor said.

Since the city didn't want it, and the Navy wasn't using it, the tower's
appearance steadily deteriorated. Crenshaw said that "everyone knew it was coming down," so there was no reason to put on a fresh coat of paint or keep up the maintenance.

"The structure was obsolete and headed for the scrap heap," Crenshaw said, adding, "That would not have been a good use of the taxpayer's money."