HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council was put on notice by a local business owner who has threatened legal action by his business and others unless the city tries to renegotiate the fees assessed with the storm water utility.

Greg Dovel was before the council stating that he will file a class-action lawsuit against the city and request a full audit of every department if the city does not come to the table. The utility was put in place to help fund an overload of needed infrastructure repairs. Those repairs at today’s cost total about $60 million.

Dovel wanted to stress to the council that he is not against the utility, only the way it is being implemented and how it affects businesses. Council members said they sympathize with business owners, but, with a rapidly deteriorating storm sewer system, such action needed to be taken and could no longer be kicked down the road.

Dovel demanded that the Council make a decision on what to do with the fee within five days. The Council said it would take up the issue again at its next meeting, which is set for Sept. 20.