(Montgomery Co.) A Montgomery County man has filed a petition for declaratory and injunctive relief against the City of Red Oak, challenging a no-trespassing order that bars him from the city’s municipal airport property.
According to the petition, Randy Cooper had long accessed and maintained portions of the airport grounds with the knowledge and consent of city officials and/or the airport commission. Cooper says he used personal funds and labor for seeding, mowing, and other upkeep that benefited the airport property. The filing states no written lease, license, or revocation agreement governing his access was ever executed or approved by the City Council.
On or about January 14, 2026, the city issued a no-trespassing order through administrative action, prohibiting Cooper from entering municipal airport property. The petition alleges the order was issued without written notice, a hearing, a City Council vote or resolution, or citation to authority under Iowa Code Chapter 330.
The filing further states that no criminal charges have been brought against Cooper and that no court order restricts his access to the airport property. Cooper says he requested clarification, records, and rescission of the order, but the city failed or refused to withdraw it.
Cooper is asking the court to declare the no-trespassing order void and unenforceable, require the city to immediately rescind it, and prohibit the city from enforcing or reissuing a similar order without lawful authority under Iowa Code Chapter 330. He also seeks any additional relief the court deems just and equitable.
