TAYLOR, Mich. – A family is outraged after the City of Taylor told them a painting that's been on their fence for two years has to come down.
Sarena Hiddleson, now 16 years old, painted "Stitch," from the movie "Lilo and Stitch," on her fence when she was 14 years old.
"It took me a couple hours to paint that because it was really hot that day. It's been there for two years and no one said anything," Sarena Hiddleson said.
She has always loved art since she was little and is also a fan of the quote that she painted on her fence.
"It's a nice quote so I thought it would be good for the neighborhood and people would smile when they drive by," Sarena Hiddleson said.
Her father, Rich Hiddleson, remembers the day he saw the painting.
"I went to work that morning, had a white fence, came home from work and that was there and I was shocked but I was really impressed. It's my daughter's artwork. That's important to me. She's talented and I like it," he said.
The painting has been on the fence for two years without problem, until a few days ago, when the Hiddlesons got a notice on their front door from the city.
"It says defacement of property, graffiti. I came right home, got the paper that they sent and went down to city hall," Rich Hiddleson said.
He isn't sure why the notice came two years later. He thinks it might have to do with a house in the area going up for sale. He said the clerk told him the city would call the next day with a final decision, and ended up calling to tell him to take the painting down.
The director of communications and marketing for the city of Taylor sent us a statement saying:
"The City of Taylor clearly sees the "painting" or "graffiti" located along the white fence at 6143 Michael Street as an ordinance violation (Code 59c, Chapter 3, Article 302.9 Section 302). This portion of the ordinance focuses on defacement of public or private property. The homeowner was told to remove the painting and restore the surface of the fence.
While we somewhat sympathize with the resident, who said that one of his children created the painting, we would suggest that there are plenty of other locations that would be much more appropriate for something like this -- inside the home or inside of a garage, for example."
Sarena Hiddleson said she already has something else in mind.
"It's offensive to me that people think it's graffiti. If it came down, it would go right in the backyard because I'm not painting over that," she said.
Her father agrees.
"I can't afford to pay the ticket so if I have to remove it, it's going in the backyard and it'll still be where it's seen, because most of the neighbors I've talked to like it. It's not going anywhere. It's still going to be visible. It's my fence, my property and it doesn't make any sense to me, and if I have to replace the fence, she will paint it again," Rich Hiddleson said.
Here are more images of Sarena Hiddleson's artwork: