Changes

Hatten often joked that his only experience in municipal government prior to his election as mayor had been in covering city council meetings for the Monroe newspapers. He hence relied on advice from seasoned mayors, William Lorenzo  "Jack" Howard (1921-2004) of his sister city of Monroe and Clyde Fant of [[Shreveport]]. Hatten noted that Monroe and West Monroe, separated by the Ouachita River, never developed the animosity sometimes associated with other twin cities but instead took pride in the strength of each other.<ref name=ouacit/>

Hatten often joked that his only experience in municipal government prior to his election as mayor had been in covering city council meetings for the Monroe newspapers. He hence relied on advice from seasoned mayors, William Lorenzo  "Jack" Howard (1921-2004) of his sister city of Monroe and Clyde Fant of [[Shreveport]]. Hatten noted that Monroe and West Monroe, separated by the Ouachita River, never developed the animosity sometimes associated with other twin cities but instead took pride in the strength of each other.<ref name=ouacit/>

During his tenure as mayor, Hatten oversaw the rebuilding of every street in West Monroe and the upgrading of the water and sewer systems, including the installation of the first sewage treatment plant. He also worked to upgrade the West Monroe Fire and Police departments and to construct Downing Pines Industrial Park, He supported the establishment of the West Ouachita Industrial Park. Under his administration a modern City Hall, Corrections Center and Convention Center were built on the former site of the Ouachita Valley Fair Grounds located on North Seventh Street. The new city complex was completed during the last days of the Hatten administration. He never occupied the new facility, at which his successor, Dave Noel Norris, Sr., was sworn in and began a long period of service in the position.

During his tenure as mayor, Hatten oversaw the rebuilding of every street in West Monroe and the upgrading of the water and sewer systems, including the installation of the first sewage treatment plant. He also worked to upgrade the West Monroe Fire and Police departments and to construct Downing Pines Industrial Park, He supported the establishment of the West Ouachita Industrial Park. Under his administration a modern City Hall, Corrections Center and Convention Center were built on the former site of the Ouachita Valley Fair Grounds located on North Seventh Street. The new city complex was completed during the last days of the Hatten administration. He never occupied the new facility, at which his successor, [[Dave Norris|Dave Noel Norris, Sr.]], was sworn in and began a long period of service in the position.

In 1971, West Monroe streamlined its municipal charter and expanded the powers of the mayor. Under Hatten's tutelage, the city constructed a new City Hall, police department, jail, and convention center on the former Ouachita Valley Fairgrounds.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CZi-yfHRBhEC&pg=PA44&lpg=PA44&dq=Bert+Hatten+and+Dave+Norris&source=bl&ots=Sz0DfQTaQ3&sig=HySyeT5PvUTicnNhMEWzCX7ylTk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=PNlvUomZCYLz2QWr94D4BA&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Bert%20Hatten%20and%20Dave%20Norris&f=false|title=Gordon E. Harvey, Historic Ouachita Parish: An Illustrated History|publisher=HPN Books, 2007, p. 44|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref>The West Monroe justice complex is modeled after a plan developed for the needs of smaller cities by the [[University of Illinois]]. West Monroe was the first municipality to follow this particular model.<ref name=ouacit/>

In 1971, West Monroe streamlined its municipal charter and expanded the powers of the mayor. Under Hatten's tutelage, the city constructed a new City Hall, police department, jail, and convention center on the former Ouachita Valley Fairgrounds.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CZi-yfHRBhEC&pg=PA44&lpg=PA44&dq=Bert+Hatten+and+Dave+Norris&source=bl&ots=Sz0DfQTaQ3&sig=HySyeT5PvUTicnNhMEWzCX7ylTk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=PNlvUomZCYLz2QWr94D4BA&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Bert%20Hatten%20and%20Dave%20Norris&f=false|title=Gordon E. Harvey, Historic Ouachita Parish: An Illustrated History|publisher=HPN Books, 2007, p. 44|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref>The West Monroe justice complex is modeled after a plan developed for the needs of smaller cities by the [[University of Illinois]]. West Monroe was the first municipality to follow this particular model.<ref name=ouacit/>

In 1998, in a series of articles written for ''The Ouachita Citizen'', which reflect on his time as mayor, Hatten said that he had received invaluable support from the general public as well as volunteers who helped to make city programs succeed. Hatten said that he has often received credit that should have been shared with others.<ref name=ouacit/>In 1978, Hatten did not seek a fourth term as mayor and was succeeded by [[Dave Norris]], a fellow Democrat and then a professor at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, who remains mayor and was unopposed in 2014 for a tenth four-year term.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/DI/20140424/NEWS01/304240015/|archive-url=https://archive.is/20140522224540/http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/DI/20140424/NEWS01/304240015/|dead-url=yes|archive-date=May 22, 2014|title=West Monroe Mayor Norris to deliver commencement at ULM, April 25, 2014|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|accessdate=May 22, 2014}}</ref> Hatten and Norris are virtually the only mayors of which the citizens of West Monroe have a collective memory. Since 1952, there have been only three mayors of West Monroe; from that time since, however, there have been thirteen U.S. presidents.

In 1998, in a series of articles written for ''The Ouachita Citizen'', which reflect on his time as mayor, Hatten said that he had received invaluable support from the general public as well as volunteers who helped to make city programs succeed. Hatten said that he has often received credit that should have been shared with others.<ref name=ouacit/>In 1978, Hatten did not seek a fourth term as mayor and was succeeded by fellow Democrat Dave Norris, who was then a professor at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, who remains mayor and was unopposed in 2014 for a tenth four-year term.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/DI/20140424/NEWS01/304240015/|archive-url=https://archive.is/20140522224540/http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/DI/20140424/NEWS01/304240015/|dead-url=yes|archive-date=May 22, 2014|title=West Monroe Mayor Norris to deliver commencement at ULM, April 25, 2014|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|accessdate=May 22, 2014}}</ref> Hatten and Norris are virtually the only mayors of which the citizens of West Monroe have a collective memory. Since 1952, there have been only three mayors of West Monroe; from that time since, however, there have been thirteen U.S. presidents.

Along with  State Representative Shady Robert  Wall (1922-1985) and Wall's wife, Lallage Feazel Wall, Hatten was a member of the first board of advisors of the Twin City Ballet Company, a regional dance entity that fosters community enrichment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20090929/DELTASTYLE/90803008/Celebrating-40-Years|title=Celebrating 40 Years: Twin City Ballet Company: A Gathering of Dancers, August 3, 2009|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|accessdate=May 22, 2014}}</ref>

Along with  State Representative Shady Robert  Wall (1922-1985) and Wall's wife, Lallage Feazel Wall, Hatten was a member of the first board of advisors of the Twin City Ballet Company, a regional dance entity that fosters community enrichment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20090929/DELTASTYLE/90803008/Celebrating-40-Years|title=Celebrating 40 Years: Twin City Ballet Company: A Gathering of Dancers, August 3, 2009|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|accessdate=May 22, 2014}}</ref>

At some point after leaving the mayor's office, Hatten changed his registration from Democrat to [[Independent]].<ref name=voterportal/>In 2002, he was a donor to the unsuccessful campaign of Republican John Cooksey of Monroe, then the [[U.S. Representative]] for Louisiana's 5th congressional district, who failed in a bid that year to unseat Democrat [[U.S. Senator]] [[Mary Landrieu]] and lost his House seat in the process.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/elec2/02/elec-WEST-MONROE-LA-02.html|title=WEST-MONROE, Louisiana (LA) Political Contributions by Individuals|publisher=city-data.com|accessdate=May 22, 2014}}</ref>Hatten was later the secretary-treasurer of Health In Government, Inc., in West Monroe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizapedia.com/people/LOUISIANA/WEST-MONROE/W-BERT-HATTEN.html|title=W. Bert Hatten In West Monroe|publisher=bizapedia.com|accessdate=May 22, 2014}}</ref>

At some point after leaving the mayor's office, Hatten changed his registration from Democrat to [[Independent voter|Independent]].<ref name=voterportal/>In 2002, he was a donor to the unsuccessful campaign of Republican John Cooksey of Monroe, then the [[U.S. Representative]] for Louisiana's 5th congressional district, who failed in a bid that year to unseat Democrat [[U.S. Senator]] [[Mary Landrieu]] and lost his House seat in the process.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/elec2/02/elec-WEST-MONROE-LA-02.html|title=WEST-MONROE, Louisiana (LA) Political Contributions by Individuals|publisher=city-data.com|accessdate=May 22, 2014}}</ref>Hatten was later the secretary-treasurer of Health In Government, Inc., in West Monroe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizapedia.com/people/LOUISIANA/WEST-MONROE/W-BERT-HATTEN.html|title=W. Bert Hatten In West Monroe|publisher=bizapedia.com|accessdate=May 22, 2014}}</ref>

==Memberships and awards==

==Memberships and awards==