The new Director of the Murray Developmental Center is looking toward campus improvements and additional residents and employees.
Jeff Wehking met for the first time with the Murray Parents Association on Sunday following his February 1st start.
“First we are going to work on dignity and respect. We are going to work on professionalism. We are going to try and get it organized and let people do the jobs they were hired to do. I think once we get those things organized the pieces will start to fall in place at that point in time. We are going to look at the infrastructure and try to make improvements to the roads, to the roofs, just the grounds in general. We want to make this place look good again and that’s one of my main focuses as well.”
Wehking says some repairs are underway to three of the buildings with the most serious roofing issues, Daisy and Fur cottages and the Community Building. He notes they also have to address some operating concerns pointed out in a recent inspection by the state.
Wehking also announced there would be additional hiring as plans are underway to open Elm Cottage to additional residents.
“We hire monthly in small numbers at this point. However it looks like next month we are going to be able to hire more direct care staff and then in the very near future sounds like we are going to have a lot of direct care staff hired in a short amount of time.”
Wehking says the hiring of an expected 48 additional workers is needed if they are going to put another cottage back into service. He notes until recently Apple Cottage was empty during a total renovation. Elm residents have now been moved there in anticipation of an overhaul of Elm for new residents.
Wehking formerly worked at Murray Center before taking the Business Manager position at the Centralia Correctional Center.
“I had 15 years I worked at DHS here at Murray Center and enjoyed every second of it. Then I went to the prison and learned so much in how to supervise people. And then this opportunity came back it’s enjoyable to make a difference in someone’s life and I feel like at Murray Center I have the opportunity and that is what helped me finalize my decision I made.”
Wehking gave his work cell phone number to all the parents in attendance to personally discuss individual issues or make suggestions for improvements.
One thing Wehking is already excited to see is more trips off the Murray Center campus by residents now that COVID-19 restrictions are being lifted. He noted a number of Murray residents are ready to go to a prom for developmentally disabled throughout the area at Castle Ridge later this month.
