Bob Rogers knows he’s probably not your favorite person to see walking up to your construction site or driving slowly passed your non-permitted mailbox, but that doesn’t stop the West Lake Hills building inspector from being affable or enjoying his job.

“No matter what I’m doing, I’m telling people something they don’t want to hear,” he said. “But I always approach it as, ‘Well, it appears you may be violating a city ordinance’ and explain what they have to do.”

But the courtesy his Texas upbringing mandates does not mean he’s a pushover.

“I try not to get too personal with people because you might tell them something they don’t like,” he said.

Each day, Rogers performs several different jobs utilizing his far-reaching array of certifications that are backed up by continuing education courses in plumbing, code enforcement, master electrician, floodplain and many others. 

“This city is probably a little different than most, which is all inherent to the size of it,” he said of the need for him to wear his “many different hats.”

He typically starts his morning by doing a loop through most of the commercial thoroughfares trying to spot illegal signs, impeded drainage ditches, an abundance of litter or, generally, any unsafe conditions.

“In a normal day’s routine, if you see something illegal, the police department or fire department needs to know,” he said. “If you see a water line break, WCID No. 10 needs to know. It’s amazing how much you get involved in.”

Legal pads with lists and notes on his various responsibilities keep him organized, and the constant work keeps him busy – both things he appreciates about his chosen profession.

During his daily rounds, Rogers often checks in with a few of the more than 100 active building permits to ensure that work flows smoothly and answer any questions. On a recent stop into construction at the incoming Lion and Rose English Pub in The Village of Westlake shopping center, he checked in with contractor Don Reiter on progress and a multitude of minor changes to the original design.

“A lot of that stuff happens, and as long as it’s not a code issue, it’s not a big deal,” Rogers said.

He keeps tabs on these projects despite the fact that the city contracts out its official building inspections. Rogers functions as a veritable walking almanac on the various elements of the building code and keep projects moving smoothly by finding code violations before the final building inspection.

And there was no set grace period to get that encyclopedic knowledge when he came on board with the city in late June.

“The reality is that you don’t have time; you’ve got to hit the deck running,” he said. “Most of this stuff is old hat with new tweaks.”

Rogers has worked for municipalities throughout Central Texas both as a municipal inspector and as a consultant with third-party engineers. His recent consulting work dried up as the slow economy stymied construction, reducing the need for many consultants.

Former WLH building inspector Jim Steerman retired about the same time, and Rogers proved the most qualified person to take over the inspecting duties.

“Getting back into municipal work is like settling back into the saddle,” the native Galvestonian said.

The appropriate axiom alludes to his favorite weekend activity – tending to his herd of buffalo on a small ranch near Shiner, Texas.

Rogers said he’s always been interested in the labor-intensive pastime. In the mid 1980s, he decided to make the interest a reality and bought his land and first few buffalo. The meat from the grass-fed animal is flavorful and much leaner than cow. Warm summer nights can find him making a bison stew in a Dutch oven over an open flame for friends at the ranch.

The drought has culled his typical herd of 30 and forced him to put the buffalo on a diet of hay instead of their preferred grass. In the slow conditions, he started up a new project on the property that became Prairie Winds Bed and Breakfast.

But the fledgling bed and breakfast remains just a weekend pastime for West Lake Hills’ code corraller.

“It’s really more of a hobby than a side business,” he said.