Traci Dixon said she was just trying to spread some positivity in her Warren neighborhood when she started hanging flags bearing uplifting messages on her wood backyard privacy fence.

“I battle depression and anxiety and I truly just wanted to make people smile,” said Dixon. “Life is hard and if I can make someone smile, I smile.”

A peace sign, a smiley face, Detroit Lions grit, ALS awareness were just some of the things adorning Dixon’s flags that hung on the fence of her ranch house on the corner of 12 Mile Road and Audrey Avenue. Others had affirming messages such as “You are enough”, “Yes you can” or “I hope something good happens to you today.”

Last week, Dixon received a letter from the city’s code enforcement department stating they are in violation of section 4A.45 of the zoning ordinance: No temporary sign shall be attached to a tree, fence, utility pole, drain or fire escape or impair the access to a roof or ingress or egress of any structure. No temporary sign shall be located on any public right-of-way or any property required for parking.

Dixon said she left a voicemail message for the inspector who issued the citation, and on Wednesday received a voicemail message from chief zoning inspector Everett Murphy asking her to call him back.

“He indicated he did not know why he had been given a message to call me,” Dixon said.

Dixon was finally able to converse with Murphy on Feb. 27 and she took that opportunity to ask several questions.

She is trying to understand why her flags are considered non-compliant and what she can do in order to continue to display them and be in step with the city’s zoning ordinance.

“Mr. Murphy did say that the wrong part of the zoning ordinance was quoted on the citation,” Dixon said. “He said that there was a complaint that I had too many flags and that I was allowed to have three, but I’m still not sure if they can be on the fence or if they have to be on flagpoles in the front yard.

“I was given a lot of conflicting information that just has made me want to ask more questions.”

Dixon said she has not personally received any complaints about her flags, but has received positive feedback from people in her neighborhood.

Murphy did tell Dixon she has the option of going in front of the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals to request a variance that would allow her to display the flags, an option that she is considering.

She is also looking into painting the entire fence a bright color and adorning it with decorative garland or other items that fall within the zoning ordinance.

“One of the things Mr. Murphy said is that my flags were considered opinion signage and that is part of the issue, but he said that anything ornamental is fine,” Dixon said. “I don’t really understand how a flag with a smiley face or a Detroit Lions grit flag is considered opinion signage but political signs are not.”

City Councilman Jonathan Lafferty said he has spoken to Dixon and has asked someone from the city’s legal department reach out to her to discuss options for flag display.

“Based on my reading of the ordinance, she will not be allowed to use the fence to display the flags,” said Lafferty. “Instead, the signs or flags will be limited to display within the front yard setback.”

A couple of winters ago, part of Dixon’s fence blew down during a storm. She and her husband are both educators and have four children, so for economic reasons they opted to replace only the part of the fence that was damaged.

“It would make me so upset to see the ugly, mismatched fence so I started hanging flower pots each summer,” Dixon said. “Then I got some flags from my middle school classroom and thought I would cover the ugly fence with happiness and make myself feel better.

“Then someone dropped a note in my mailbox about how much positivity the flags bring to her, then someone left flowers and I realized it was making other people feel better too.”

The ALS awareness flag is very special to Dixon. Her father was diagnosed 10 years ago and is still battling the disease. Last year, she ran the New York Marathon and raised $14,000 for ALS United. She ordered the flag to show support for her dad and to let others who may have a loved one struggling with the disease know that they are not alone.

Since receiving the notice from the city, Dixon has removed all of the flags from her fence. She just wants to think of a way to keep the good vibes going in her neighborhood.

“Obviously I am trying to put something good out there,” Dixon said. “There is so much uncertainty in today’s world and people are experiencing a lot of tension and anxiety, I would just like to be able to do something to make it better.”