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→Political life
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 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.
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|date=April 25, 2014|publisher=''[[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 Wall]], who was married to the former Lallage Feazel, 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 Wall]], who was married to the former Lallage Feazel, 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>