PROSPER -- City leaders in a fast growing Collin County town are calling it the most controversial issue they've seen in years. Amazingly, all the fuss in Prosper is about the paint color of the new water tower.

The emails started pouring into city hall soon after the $3 million water tower was erected and painted. The problem seems to be the color scheme and the logo, an old time windmill. "We don't have a lot of windmills in Prosper, never have had," said Mayor Charles Niswanger.

Mayor Niswanger says tan is not the right color for Prosper. He prefers green like the fields of this long time farming community.

"The color should depict our history a little bit more. We've never been an area where it was brown. We've never been an area that was tan, such as West Texas,” said Mayor Niswanger.

There are few people in Prosper who have lived here longer than the woman who lives in one house. She has been there since 1929, and now she's living in the shadow of the new water tower.

Juanice Stanton says she loves the color and the logo. But then again, she grew up on a farm that had a windmill. "That's why I couldn't understand why anyone would have any objection to it. I thought that's what farming was all about," said Stanton.

Others believe the color should be green to symbolize the town's high school football team, the eagles, which several businesses already display proudly.

"I like the windmill on it, and I think the color is very nice. I think it blends in," said Prissy Graves, Prosper resident.

The mayor says the town council approved the colors and design, something he now calls a mistake. But it won't be changed any time soon. Repainting the tower would cost about $50,000.

E-mail sstoler@wfaa.com