By Robert Taylor and Tatum Hearn
With each day and in ways many people might not see, Engineering and Mobility’s own Cheryl Rogers has helped make impacts that will last a lifetime.
Rogers has worked for the City of Boerne as a city engineer for the last five years and has managed and contributed to dozens of projects that benefit our community while also lending a helping hand wherever she can.
“I love being able to serve a community and be a part of something bigger than myself,” Rogers said.
The Engineering and Mobility Department is responsible for construction inspections, stormwater management, street and drainage maintenance, and much more.
“Part of my role is development work. We review construction plans for any development coming in and any property that’s platting, making sure they’re meeting codes for engineering,” Rogers said. “The review process entails checking the design for streets, drainage, and utilities.”
When she joined the City in 2019, Rogers was managing one sidewalk project. Then many projects were paused in 2020 due to the pandemic as department staff reprioritized to focus on other tasks. As the City began to come out of the pandemic, the list of projects quickly picked up, following an emphasis on capital improvement and bond projects. Today, Rogers and the department have about 12 major projects they are currently working on.
Some of the bigger projects she’s currently managing are the street improvement projects approved by voters in the 2022 bond election. These projects will repave and reconstruct some of the streets with the worst pavement conditions.
Rogers also helps to oversee floodplain management for the City. Just in the last year, the City applied to be a part of FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS), which is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management practices that exceed national minimum standards. The City’s participation in the program allows residents to have a lower premium on their flood insurance.
When asked about the biggest difference she feels she has made in the community, Rogers couldn’t take all the credit. She and her coworkers ensure that all new construction follows City codes, helping to reduce the impact of projects on residents living nearby.
“Because of all the policies and plans the City has put in place, I think we are providing really good protection for our community,” Rogers said.
Coming out of college, Rogers knew she wanted to one day work in civil engineering in local government. She worked in a consulting role for an engineering firm gaining experience before an opportunity came open at the City of Boerne. She jumped at the chance.
“Here at the City, someone will call you with a question you’ve never been asked before, and that happens all the time,” she said. “There are so many things that can happen, so many questions people can have. It really is like a new thing every day.”
Like most people who call Boerne home, Rogers loves the small-town atmosphere and wants to help maintain it through her work. She and her husband have called Boerne home for six years and together they have three young children.
