By Robert Taylor
For Abel Hernandez, a construction inspector in the Engineering and Mobility Department, ensuring the quality of Boerne’s infrastructure is personal.
“I put my whole heart into my projects,” Hernandez said. “This is where I grew up and people know me. When they see me, I want them to be proud of what I’ve done.”
He started working for the City of Boerne in 2012 in the Utilities Department before moving into construction inspection after a couple years. In his role, Abel and three other inspectors are responsible for inspecting all public infrastructure and capital improvement projects.
This includes new utility infrastructure like water, reclaimed water, wastewater, natural gas, and electric. They inspect everything that connects to the City’s systems, through the right of way and easements, and up to the meter. Code Compliance takes over from the meter to the house.
Over the last five years, the City has increased its focus on capital improvement projects and improving existing infrastructure, including streets, drainage, and sidewalk improvements. Abel takes special pride in these projects and makes sure Boerne residents are getting quality work for their tax dollars.
“We hold ourselves to a high standard in Boerne; our specs and our tolerances are tight,” he said. “One of the big differences with Boerne and other municipalities is we actually inspect everything the contractors do.”
Abel takes additional steps to ensure the quality of contractors’ work by holding a thorough pre-construction meeting with everyone involved on the job site. By meeting directly with the developer, engineer, foreman, and superintendent, he can communicate the project expectations face to face before work begins. This level of communication has helped Boerne identify contractors who hold themselves to the same high standards as the City.
Some of the work he’s most proud of are the bond projects to completely rebuild Blanco Road, Kronkosky Street, and Parkway Drive, which were completed at the start of this year.
Others include projects on W. San Antonio Street, Rosewood Avenue, Oak Park Drive, and Frey Street. Each of these brought mobility improvements to more established parts of Boerne, including new sidewalks, drainage improvements, a water main replacement, and traffic improvements.
“People see the orange cones and the ‘Road Closed’ signs, but at the end of the day we are just trying to improve mobility all the way around town,” Hernandez said.
While these projects aim to improve the quality of life for residents, he knows the process of getting there can be a headache for residents. In the areas where work is being done, Abel makes a point to connect with residents and business owners who might be impacted and ensure they understand the project and who to contact with any questions or concerns.
As a fourth generation Boerne resident, Abel says working for the City has been rewarding and has given him the opportunity to leave a mark on the place he loves. He is proud to be raising his two daughters in the same small town he has always called home.
