FLUSHING TWP, MI -- Township planning commission member Donn Hinds was disgusted at the sign he spotted at the intersection of Coldwater and McKinley roads over the weekend.

A number of cars were parked at the corner, including one with an African-American woman and her small children inside that stopped to get a look at the sign that read "Make The Township White Again."

Flushing Township is almost 96 percent white, according to Census statistics.

Hinds, a retired Flushing High School teacher, struck up a conversation with the woman before he headed over to voice his opinion with the homeowner.

"She said 'I think it's just terrible.' She was telling the kids her take on it, that there are some bad people out there but most people aren't like that," said Hinds. "These poor kids are seeing something terrible. They are seeing a sign that says they are second class citizens or worse."

The homeowner who placed the sign has called it a joke and a reference to presidential candidate Donald Trump's slogan of "Make America Great Again" after he'd had several political signs taken from his yard.

Asked not to be identified due to death threats, the homeowner filed a police report this week over his stolen yard signs, but he may face some consequences for his own display.

Hinds said he's spoken with police Chief Brian Fairchild and acting supervisor Maryion Lee about the sign potentially having broken ordinances including no permit, in the county right-of-way, no fee paid, and size requirements.

The township does not currently have a code enforcement officer, with Hinds stating the duty to enforce the requirements could fall onto several parties including Fairchild and Lee.

Fairchild said it's not the first time the sign has been placed out by the roadside, with the first instance taking place roughly two weeks ago.

"He put a sign out across the street saying the same thing, but in somebody else's yard," said Fairchild, with the same message etched out. A complaint was made, but the sign was removed before police could respond to the scene.

If there were any violations of the sign ordinance, Fairchild said officers would have had the legal right to take action.

No complaint has been filed by the homeowner after someone allegedly went onto his property, removed his sign, and used a circular saw to destroy it, posting a video of the act on social media.

"It's his Constitutional right to express himself. It's a First Amendment right, it's all we can go by," Fairchild said.

But some have made the decision to take their own action and placed their own signs as well at the intersection, with some different messages for those driving in the quiet neighborhood.

Flushing resident Bree Thomas set out a sign at the intersection that read "Make The World Color Blind," while another person created one stating "We Forgive You."

After spotting news coverage on Facebook of what she called "the hateful sign," Thomas became upset and walked the half-mile to the home from her residence.

"I just wanted people to know that one outspoken, hateful racist man does not reflect our community," she said. "I wanted African-Americans -- who were clearly victimized by that man's sign - to know there are other people who care about them."

The homeowner previously argued he should be able to put out a message, as other groups have, without receiving threats against himself and his family members.

Hinds understood the right to free speech "and I defend the guy on that," but he wondered about the potential impact of the words on those children.

"We've seen it in the political scene where a black child can now grow up to be president, a woman can grow up to be president. What kind of impact would (the sign) that have on them?"