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Rabiner Treatment Center will become Lizard Creek Ranch

New owners of Rabiner property will rent space for school

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Fred Weers, of Humboldt, left, and Jason Kahler, of Fort Dodge, both of KLH Properties, pose in front of the Rabiner Treatment Center campus. KLH Properties is purchasing the grounds that make up RTC.

Rabiner Treatment Center, as many people know it, will no longer exist under new ownership, but the area school districts that send troubled students to the academy on the Rabiner campus will still be able to do so.

KLH Properties, which includes investors Jason Kahler, of Fort Dodge; Fred Weers, of Humboldt; and Jake Hilton, of Fort Dodge; plans to purchase the grounds that comprise Rabiner Treatment Center.

Rabiner Treatment Center decided to sell its property after budget issues forced the closure of the residential programming in January.

The academy, also known as the consortium school, has remained open and will continue to do so.

RTC was a nonprofit organization that serves troubled boys. It was founded in 1961 by the Iowa State Police Association. It was known at the time as the Jerry Rabiner Memorial Boys Ranch. The site was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Louis Rabiner in memory of their son, Jerry, who was killed in an auto accident in 1953.

The property, located at 1762 Johnson Ave., will see a variety of changes in the coming months, including the name of the property itself.

Area school superintendents met with Kahler and Weers during the Rabiner Academy Consortium meeting Wednesday morning on the Rabiner campus, west of Fort Dodge.

Kahler, a former Fort Dodge police officer and owner of Dale’s Corner Store, and Weers, an electrician and co-owner of CEC Electric, rolled out some of their plans during the discussion.

“We don’t see anything changing (with the school),” Kahler said. “This half and the gymnasium would remain and anything to the north would not step on our toes at all.”

The academy will occupy two buildings and will have access to the gymnasium, Kahler said.

Aside from the school, Kahler said a campground with kayaking amenities and a banquet center that would be available for wedding receptions could be located on the property.

The assessed land value, according to the Webster County assessor’s page, is $939,070. Square footage information was not listed.

Kahler said there wouldn’t be any camping activities until school is out.

The owners plan to scrap the name Rabiner Treatment Center in favor of Lizard Creek Ranch.

The school will be called Lizard Creek Academy.

John O’Brien, principal of the Rabiner Academy, emphasized that the academy is staying.

“The school is still open,” O’Brien said.

O’Brien previously reported that about 43 students are currently attending the academy.

Greg Darling, Humboldt Community School District superintendent, offered his support for the transition.

“This meeting is a breath of fresh air,” he said. “This is an area that could be prosperous. Fort Dodge is doing a lot of newer things. And weddings around here, there’s a shortage. Camping — with us being good neighbors, we are very open to that.”

He added, “We have worked to keep this school open and keep it prosperous. We have a need for students in this area. We aren’t going away.”

Justin Daggett, Manson Northwest Webster School District superintendent, added, “I see this as being a good long-term partnership.”

Marty Fonley, Algona Community School District superintendent; Brian Johnson, Southeast Valley School District superintendent; Robert Cordes, Carroll Community School District superintendent; and Joe Kramer, Pocahontas Area Community School District superintendent; were also in attendance.

An estimated 21 area school districts are part of a consortium where each school involved pays a fee to send students to Rabiner’s academy. That agreement has been in place since August 2017.

The consortium differs from the residential programming because students do not stay on campus.

Manson Northwest Webster School District is the fiscal agent for the consortium.

Each district involved pays about $20,000 to MNW. That funds the staff and students for the academy.

Schools receive a majority of that money back if no students are sent there.

The arrangement is anticipated to continue under the new owners.

Weers said his group will close on the property June 30, but have already been granted access to begin taking care of maintenance around the facilities.

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