Terrell County OKs 20-acre Fisher Industries lease at county airport for Big Bend border work

Terrell County commissioners voted to lease about 20 acres at the Terrell County Airport to Fisher Industries. The approved agreement charges Fisher $10,000 per month and permits use of the property for construction staging — including storage of fence panels and equipment — and for development of temporary worker housing if the company determines housing is needed.

The airport will remain open. The lease, however, limits some uses of the property during construction activity. The agreement explicitly references Fisher's border wall projects and related construction activities.

Public concerns raised at the meeting

Commissioners heard nearly two hours of public comment before the vote. Residents and county officials asked whether the monthly lease payment will offset additional county expenses tied to an influx of workers and construction traffic.

Concrete public-safety and cost concerns reported at the meeting:

• Law enforcement capacity: Chief Deputy Manuel Jiménez said the county has enough deputies for routine work but not all are available at once. He warned additional workers and construction activity could increase calls involving crashes, intoxicated driving, assaults, narcotics and other disturbances.
• Jail capacity and costs: Terrell County's jail holds seven beds. Jiménez said when inmates must be housed elsewhere, the county pays about $64 per inmate per day plus transport and related expenses.
• Infrastructure impacts: Residents asked about road maintenance, water and utilities, security, liability and the overall process used to lease county property.

Supporters of the lease argued it would bring revenue to the county and generate economic activity in and around Sanderson, the small community near the airport.

Before the vote, Brewster County businessman and pilot Billy Bartko proposed a different path: pay the county $10,000 per month to operate and restore airport services instead of letting Fisher use the property for border construction. Bartko outlined plans to rehabilitate runway and hangar facilities, add a fuel farm and pursue about $2.2 million in previously approved airport grant funding that he said had not been capitalized. He presented the airport as a driver for aviation services and regional tourism.

Bartko opposed use of the airport as a staging area for border construction, saying the Fisher lease would occupy 20 acres near the airport entrance and could reduce the usefulness of the remaining property. After commissioners approved the Fisher lease, Bartko said his proposal was no longer viable.

How this fits into wider border work

Next practical questions for the community