A NEWCOMERS GUIDE A Unique History & An Outstanding Quality of Life.
WELCOME
Fitzgerald-Ben Hill Co. Chamber of Commerce 805 S. Grant Street Fitzgerald, GA 31750 229-423-9357 www.fitzgeraldchamber.org www.facebook.com/ fitzgeraldbenhillchamber.commerce
cschirack@mediacombb.net derindalewis@mchsi.com
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Verizon & Alltel offer cellular phone service
Welcome, newcomer! The welcome mat is always out in Fitzgerald and Ben Hill County, and especially at your Chamber of Commerce. We’re not the largest city in Georgia, just the best. Make us prove it. Drop by the chamber at 805 South. Grant Street, pull up a chair, and talk to us about your needs and the great opportunities that are yours in Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County. You’ll learn about our unusual history, being founded as a colony city for Yankee and Confederate veterans to live in peace and harmony. You’ll find that we offer a special blend of our past and present, industry and agriculture, business and pleasure. Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County is a friendly town, and we offer our sincere best wishes as you establish your home or business here. Come see us!
Christi Christi Schirack Executive Director Fitzgerald-Ben Hill Co. Chamber of Commerce
Digital Express 229-423-4529 Device Specialist 706-755-9801 ALLTEL 229-423-3130
Fitzgerald is proud to share its unique history with residents and newcomers alike.
Employment Georgia Department of Labor 229-386-3322
Labor Finders 229-426-7489
Rich in diversity and collaboration, Fitzgerald was built to defy tradition and excel in circumstances that most would find challenging. www.fitzgeraldga.org
Ben Hill County was created in 1906, from Irwin and Wilcox counties, and was named for Benjamin Harvey Hill, U.S. Senator from Georgia, a Whig leader, and a staunch opponent of Reconstruction. www.benhillcounty.com
Real Estate Agencies Roanoke Realty www.roanokerealtyinc.com 423-8765
Link Realty www.link-realty.com 423-9395
Century 21 Www.Century21tifton.com 424-5424
Mason Realty www.masonrealty.biz 423-6692
Complete Realty 424-9022
Active Realty www.activerealestateinc.com 423-7653 SMALL TOWN VALUES, BIG IDEAS
www.fitzgeraldchamber.org
Helpful Information for Newcomers The city of Fitzgerald is located 178 miles southeast of Atlanta. Automobile License Tags New Georgia residents must purchase a license within 30 days. Tags can be purchased at the tax commissioner’s office located at 324 East Pine Street . Driver’s License New residents must apply for a Georgia driver’s license within 30 days. Communications The Herald-Leader weekly newspaper and The Ben Hill— Irwin Wilcox Shopper serve Fitzgerald and Ben Hill County. Daily papers from Atlanta, Albany, Macon and Tifton are also delivered to the county. www.herald-leader.net www.bhiwshopper.com Cable TV is available through Mediacom (1-866-755-2225) www.mediacomcc.com. Dish Network is available through Tomlin’s Radio & TV Sales (229-423-3587) Direct TV is available through Windstream (1-800-347-1991) Utilities Electricity, natural gas, liquid propane gas, water and sewer serevice are provided to city residents by Fitzgerald Utilities. The office is located at 103 W. Central Ave.. For more information call 229-426-5400 or www.fitzutilities.com Other utility services available are private liquid propane gas companies, Irwin County Electric Membership Corporation
Colleges & Universities Wiregrass Georgia Technical College 229-468-2000 South GA College-Douglas 912-389-4510 Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Tifton 229-386-3236 Valdosta State University-Valdosta 229-333-5800
Hospital Phoebe -Dorminy Medical Center 424-7100
Recreation Department of Leisure Services 426-5050
Newspaper/Shopper The Herald Leader 423-9331 Ben Hill-Irwin Area Shopper 423-6684
Senior Citizens Center 426-5177 Sheriff’s Office 426-5161 Tax Commissioner 426-5144
City of Fitzgerald Mayor’s Office 426-5060
and Georgia Power Company, which primarily serve areas outside the city limits of Fitzgerald. www.irwinemc.com Telephone & Internet Service Windstream & Mediacom serves Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County residents.
Windstream 116 Benjamin Hill RD. 229-423-3130 or 1-800-255-8351 www.windstream.net
Mediacom 708 S. Grant ST. 1-855-MEDIACOM www.mchsi.com
City Administrator’s Office 426-5060 Police Chief 426-5000 Fire Chief 426-5030
Education Ben Hill Co. Schools 409-5500
Post office 800-ASK-USPS
Home phone service Internet
Garbage Pick - Up Garbage pick up is available once weekly for city residents. The monthly garbage tax is billed on utility bills.
School Registration Important Phone Numbers To register a child with the Ben Hill Co. school system, each childFitzgerald will need Utilities a report from his or her previous school, a transfer form, 426-5400 immunization record and birth certificate. Eye, 426-5455-Emergencies ear and dental screenings are required if the child is entering kindergarten or first grade. For Windstream more information call 229-409-5500. 1-800-501-1754-Residential www.astihosted.com/bhcdcp 1-800-501-1776-Business Ben Hill Co. Offices Ben Hill Co. Commissioners For Tax information on property and auto visit: 426-5112
www.benhillcounty.com Ben Hill Co. Health Dept. www.fitzgeraldga.org 426-5288 Board of Elections 426-5151
County Clerk 426-5100 Dept. of Family & Children Services 426-5300 District Attorney’s Office 426-5156 Extension Service Co. Agent 426-5175 GA Forestry Commission-Ben Hill Co. Forestry 426-5259 Magistrate Court 426-5140
Filing Deadlines
Magistrate Office 426-5141
Board of Tax Assessors 426-5147 Homestead Exemption Applications for
County Manager 426-5170
current year Business Personal Property Clerk of SuperiorReturns Court
April 1st
May 1st
426-5135 Community Service Center
Manufactured Home deadline for displaying current year's decal 426-5177
Road Superintendent 426-5170 School Superintendent 426-5500
Important Phone Numbers Fitzgerald Utilities 426-5400 426-5455-Emergencies
302 S. Main Street 229-423-5446
Windstream 1-800-501-1754-Residential 1-800-501-1776-Business Ben Hill Co. Offices Ben Hill Co. Commissioners 426-5112 Ben Hill Co. Health Dept. 426-5288
103 W. Roanoke Drive 229-423-4321
Members of the chamber.
212 E. Central Ave. 229-424-9600
For more information on our Community check out these websites: www.fitzgeraldchamber.org www.benhillcounty.com www.fitzgeraldga.org
Board of Elections 426-5151 Board of Tax Assessors 426-5147 Clerk of Superior Court 426-5135 Community Service Center 426-5177
Ben Hill County and the City of Fitzgerald maintain nine recreational parks and one river access park at the Ocmulgee River. These facilities offer playgrounds, team sports, natural areas, meeting and concert shelters, and public boat ramps.