Changes

and the older brother of the Louisiana journalist Jesse Dale Thorn (1942-2014), another alumnus of the Monroe newspapers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/clarionledger/obituary.aspx?n=jesse-dale-thorn&pid=170968700#sthash.g1JbouVI.dpuf|title=Jesse Dale Thorn|publisher='' The Baton Rouge Morning Advocate''|accessdate=May 17, 2014}}</ref> Altogether, Hatten served with twelve city council members, all men.<ref name=ouacit>{{cite web|url=http://www.hannapub.com/ouachitacitizen/opinion/columns/article_78056c7c-bff9-11e3-bea2-001a4bcf6878.html|title=Bert Hatten: Neighborly relations remembered, 1998|publisher=''The Ouachita Citizen''|accessdate=May 22, 2014}}</ref>

and the older brother of the Louisiana journalist Jesse Dale Thorn (1942-2014), another alumnus of the Monroe newspapers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/clarionledger/obituary.aspx?n=jesse-dale-thorn&pid=170968700#sthash.g1JbouVI.dpuf|title=Jesse Dale Thorn|publisher='' The Baton Rouge Morning Advocate''|accessdate=May 17, 2014}}</ref> Altogether, Hatten served with twelve city council members, all men.<ref name=ouacit>{{cite web|url=http://www.hannapub.com/ouachitacitizen/opinion/columns/article_78056c7c-bff9-11e3-bea2-001a4bcf6878.html|title=Bert Hatten: Neighborly relations remembered, 1998|publisher=''The Ouachita Citizen''|accessdate=May 22, 2014}}</ref>

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 Norris|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.