Gonzales County approves final plat for WT Airpark in Waelder

Gonzales County commissioners signed off Monday, May 13, on the final plat for the first phase of the county’s first airpark development — WT Airpark in Waelder.

The court had previously approved the preliminary plat in February, County Emergency Management and Permitting Director Jimmy Harless said. Airpark manager and developer Brittany Oligney was present at Monday’s meeting as well.

“Again, I have to commend Brittany and her folks for doing a really good job,” Harless said. “They provided the water study and provided the drainage plan. It's been top notch — probably one of the best, in my opinion, subdivision applications that we've seen so far. I think that they're finally ready.”

WT Airpark is also known as The Whiskey Tango, which comes from the International Radio-Telephony Spelling Alphabet call signs for WT, which also stands for Waelder, Texas, and is located two miles east of Waelder at the intersection of US 90 and I-10, with access to the property from County Road 15 and Farm-to-Market Road 1618.

The nearly 200-acre complex, which will have the airport identifier 90TT, will start Phase I with 12 two-acre residential lots as well as a 4,000-foot communal Bermuda grass runway that will eventually be paved and include lights and an approach. There will also be a community gathering area where residents can have bonfires and cookouts, along with a pond, walking trail and other amenities. Additional phases will add up to 30 more lots as well as a second, 5,000-foot runway that could handle light jet traffic and there is an additional 100 acres of land where the airpark can expand in the future.

In other action, commissioners also approved selection of the Salary Grievance Committee by a method to include the Sheriff, County Tax Assessor-Collector, County Treasurer, County Clerk, District Clerk, and County Attorney or Criminal District Attorney; along with the drawing of three names and two alternate names from the pool of individuals who served on a grand jury.

Commissioners also approved a deputation for Laurie Cook as deputy county clerk and approved a renewal agreement between the State of Texas and the Gonzales County Sheriff's Office for the procurement of federal excess property.