GRAND FORKS (AP) - Water towers here and in Hope with painted smiley faces might soon be a thing of the past.

The Hope City Council is building a new 100,000-gallon water tower in the Steele County community of 300. The city plans to have the old water tower demolished after the new tank is put into service.

The old tower, a smaller version of the Grand Forks smiley tower, has a painted face that is almost identical to its big-city cousin.

Grand Forks' tower with a smiley face and winking left eye was built nearly 80 years ago and has not been part of the city water system for eight years. It was left standing as a local landmark.

Several City Council members, including Curt Kreun and Art Bakken, have said they would like to see the tower sold for scrap metal because prices are at record highs.

The council considered demolition in 2006 but was deterred by the estimated cost of $50,000. Many residents also like the tower.

"You get close to 'smiley,' and it's like talking about someone's cousin," Councilman Doug Christensen said.

Renovation costs are estimated at $368,000, and Kreun said no one has been able to raise the money. The high price of scrap metal might mean someone would be willing to take it down for free, he said.

The State Historical Society of North Dakota's Historic Preservation Office looked into the history of Hope's smiley tower.

"To my knowledge, it doesn't meet the criteria it would have to meet to be placed on the National Register," said Susan Quinnell, with the Preservation Office.

The National Register of Historic Places is the federal government's list of properties it considers worthy of preservation and recognition.

No formal discussions have taken place about a possible local campaign to save the tower, said Marcia Mitzel, a Hope City Council member.