Cooper seeking dismissal of no-tresspass order at airport

The City of Red Oak and Red Oak resident Randy Cooper are debating his return to a city property.
The Red Oak City Council recently heard comments from Cooper regarding a no-trespass order issued for Cooper at the Red Oak Municipal Airport.
On Aug. 14, 2025, Cooper resigned as a Red Oak Airport Commissioner following an arrest for theft second degree. The charge was adjudicated to theft third degree, and Cooper was given a deferred judgment for one year, as well as one year of probation on Dec. 12, 2025.
On or about Jan. 14 of this year, the City of Red Oak, through administrative action, issued a no trespassing order barring Cooper from the municipal airport property, as a result of actions that occurred on airport property.
On Feb. 12, Red Oak city administrator Lisa Kotter informed the Red Oak City Council members that Cooper subsequently filed a lawsuit against the City of Red Oak seeking to have the order dismissed. Following the Feb. 17 Red Oak City Council meeting, by 3-1 vote, the council approved filing civil action against Cooper to recover funds owed for hay bales removed and sold from Red Oak Municipal Airport property without authorization between 2021 and 2025.    
The resolution approved by the council outlined that Cooper removed hay without approval from the Red Oak Airport Commission or Red Oak City Council, expanded the acreage over time — including encroaching on land leased by a paying tenant — and deprived the City of rightful revenue. During the five-year period from 2021 through 2025, the city alleges that Cooper progressively expanded the acreage from which he removed hay without authorization, beginning with approximately 13.35 acres in the first year and increasing to approximately 28 acres by the fifth year.
The total amount due is identified as $17,268.69, which includes $12,463.05 in principal and $4,805.64 in accrued interest. According to Kotter, she and city attorney Brianna O’Hearn communicated with Cooper in the month prior in an effort to resolve the matter without court action. He was provided with the opportunity to reimburse the City for the hay sold from City property; however, through communications it was indicated he did not intend to remit payment. Therefore, attorney O’Hearn and Kotter recommended that a civil lawsuit be filed to seek compensation for the loss of revenue to the city and to protect the interests of the taxpayers.
In regards to the lawsuit filed by Cooper to have the no-trespass order dismissed, Kotter said there was some resolution to report.
“After the city prepared for the hearing with attorney O’Hearn, Mr. Cooper failed to appear before the Court. As a result, the case was dismissed, and the no-trespass order remains in effect. Following the dismissal, Mr. Cooper retained legal counsel in connection with the lawsuit filed by the city regarding hay removed from airport property without compensation to the city,” advised Kotter. “Through his attorney, Mr. Cooper again requested that the no-trespass order be lifted. City   attorney O’Hearn denied that request.”
As part of that request, Kotter said Cooper indicated that he could have deputies from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department escort him onto airport property whenever he wished to enter. However, Kotter said after speaking with Montgomery County Sheriff Spunaugle, it was confirmed that the sheriff’s department is not willing to provide such escorts and did not make any representation to Cooper that it would do so.  Other promises were made as well.
“More recently, Mr. Cooper informed the Mayor that city attorney O’Hearn had advised him that he could access airport property if he obtained written permission from the City. Mr. Cooper has requested that the Mayor provide such written authorization. However, after discussing the matter with Attorney O’Hearn, she confirmed that she never made such a statement and has not authorized any exception to the No-Trespass Order,” explained Kotter.
Kotter also added that the city is currently involved in ongoing litigation with Cooper regarding hay that was removed from airport property without compensation to the City. That matter is scheduled to be heard by the court on Jan. 27, 2027. According to O’Hearn, no additional requests to modify or lift the no-trespass order have been made through legal counsel since the prior request was denied.
At the Red Oak City Council’s first meeting on June 1, Cooper addressed the council about the no-trespass order and requested it be lifted.
Cooper said he began getting active in aviation when he was a teenager, flying gas-powered models and joining the Civil Air Patrol at age 14. He received his private pilot license in 1990, and has owned a plane and rented a hangar since the early 1990s. Cooper graduated from Red Oak High School, and has been married to his wife, also a Red Oak resident, for 49 years and put three kids through the Red Oak School system and been a homeowner and taxpayer since 1987.  
“I would like to share some good news with the council. Earlier June 1, my 10th grandchild was born, a healthy baby boy. Thank God for that blessing. Becoming a grandfather 10 times over makes me think about family and community. It also reminds me of opportunities I can no longer share with my grandchildren,” commented Cooper.
Cooper said that because of the no trespass order at the airport, he’s limited in what he can do with family.
“When a grandchild asks me to go for a plane ride, I have to say no. When they ask me to attend an airport breakfast, I have to say no. When long-time friends ask for help with farming and hay activities at the airport, I have to say no,” said Cooper.
Cooper added that his concern was that the no trespass order was not issued by the Red Oak Airport Commission, was not voted on by the Red Oak City Council, nor was it issued by law enforcement, and to his understanding was issued by a city employee acting alone.
Cooper said to the Honorable Mayor Tim Fridolph and the City Council, he was requesting that the council formally review and reconsider the no trespass order issued against him regarding the airport property.
“I make this request respectfully and in good faith My goal is to resolve this matter fairly and professionally. For years, I assisted with support of activities connected to the airport and the surrounding property. I worked with hay, crop ground operators, helped maintain areas of the airport property, seeded the grass runway, and did other works that benefitted the airport and the Red Oak community,” Cooper stated.
Cooper added he was concerned that the no-trespass order may have been issued without prior approval or direction from the Red Oak City Council, as well as without an opportunity for Cooper to respond before the restrictions were imposed.
“To my knowledge, I am not aware of any public council vote authorizing this action. I respectfully ask the council to consider what authority was used to issue the no-trespassing order, whether the proper procedures were followed, whether the restrictions remain necessary, and whether a fair resolution can be reached.”
Cooper said the matter has affected his reputation, his relationship with the airport community, and his ability to participate in activities that he previously supported.
“I believe the situation can still be resolved in a reasonable manner. I’m not here to create a conflict, I simply ask for transparency, fairness, and a reconsideration of the decision.”
The council held no formal discussion on the subject at its June 1 meeting.