The City of Heath brought on John Hernandez as a dedicated in-house city engineer Monday, Aug. 10, shifting the role from an outside consultant to a full-time staff position and putting a licensed professional engineer with more than 20 years of infrastructure experience in charge of a capital project portfolio that has swelled past $60 million.

The position was previously filled by Richard Dormier of the consulting firm Freeman-Millican Inc., according to the city's 2025 Comprehensive Plan. Hernandez now reports directly to City Manager Steven Alexander.

"We are pleased to welcome John to our team," Alexander said in the city's announcement. "John's experience and collaborative approach will help ensure that we deliver high-quality projects on time and within budget."

Hernandez arrives as Heath juggles several major builds. The Hubbard Drive reconstruction from Michael Drive to FM 740, a $5.4 million contract awarded to Apple Paving, is expected to take one year. A 1.5-million-gallon elevated storage tank on Governors Boulevard, part of the city's $41.5 million Water Bridge Plan, is under construction with completion targeted for August 2027. The Candlelite fire-flow project, awarded to Hayes Construction, began work June 24. And a trail connectivity effort, including a $1.3 million Terry Lane sidewalk project, is in design, as we reported Aug. 8.

As of April 30, the city's active Capital Improvement Program totaled roughly $60.4 million, with $26.9 million already spent and $19.3 million encumbered, according to council records.

Most recently, Hernandez served as senior highway group manager for STV Inc. in Dallas, a national infrastructure firm ranked 32nd on Engineering News-Record's Top 500 Design Firms list. Before that, he spent more than two decades in engineering leadership at Hernandez, Kroone & Associates, a civil engineering and land surveying firm in San Bernardino, California.

He holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and is licensed as a professional engineer in Texas, California and Oklahoma. He is also a registered professional land surveyor in Texas and California and a certified small unmanned aircraft systems operator.

Hernandez said his goal is to ensure Heath's roadway system, utilities and public amenities are planned and built to the highest standards. He starts immediately and will oversee the active project queue, which also includes two new Department of Public Safety stations slated for completion in April and August 2027. The city council is expected to adopt the FY2026-27 budget Tuesday, Aug. 11, which includes additional capital priorities such as a citywide street improvement program and Key Drive drainage project that Hernandez will help deliver.