Gabe Stark
Reporter

Matthew C. Harline describes local government as the level of public service residents encounter most directly.

It is where streets are paved, utilities are maintained, police and fire protection are provided, trash is collected and everyday problems are solved close to home.

For Harline, Trenton’s new city administrator, that work is more than a profession.

“I’m doing the thing that I think is not only the most important thing in the world, but the thing I’d most want to do in the world, and that’s work in management of local government,” he said.

Experience and salary

Harline began work as Trenton city administrator April 27. Under his employment agreement, Harline will receive an annual salary of $145,000. The agreement states the compensation will be reviewed annually and may be adjusted by agreement of both parties, but the annual compensation rate may not be decreased. Harline also may receive salary or benefit adjustments approved by the City Council. The agreement also requires Harline to establish residence within Grundy County. The city agreed to make a one-time relocation payment of $15,000 to reimburse moving and relocation costs.

Harline’s appointment comes as Trenton begins a new fiscal year and continues work on issues ranging from utilities and infrastructure to housing, economic development and long-range planning.

Harline said serving on the Columbia City Council gave him a greater appreciation for the role professional staff members play in making a community function. Columbia’s services included utilities, bus service, an airport and other operations, giving him a wide view of municipal work.

He said one of his biggest takeaways from that time was that local government has a direct and practical impact on quality of life.

“Municipal government has a profound effect on making a good place where people live,” Harline said.

He said local government also offers a different kind of public conversation than state or national politics.

“When people come into that chamber, they’re looking at what’s best for the community,” Harline said. “You get rid of the D and the R, the blue and the red and all that sort of stuff. You don’t worry about what’s the liberal or conservative way to pave the street.”

In Villa Park, Harline served as village manager from June 2022 to May 2025. He said one of the most significant projects of his career was the construction of the Villa Park Recreation Center, a project that came with post-COVID construction cost challenges but was completed after the budget was reworked.

He said the recreation center became more than a building.

“We created what you call a third space for the whole community,” Harline said.

The facility included a gymnasium, meeting space, exercise facilities, classrooms and a dance studio. Harline said the building helped provide a gathering place for residents and became part of a larger downtown development effort.

Learning Trenton’s History

In Trenton, Harline said part of his early work has been learning the community’s history, meeting department heads and connecting with community organizations. He said he wants to understand both the recent and long-term history of the city because that context helps explain why things are the way they are.

“It’s important to understand how these things took place,” Harline said. “Some communities just have a can-do will to get things done.”

Harline said Trenton’s electric utility is a major asset and one the city should value. He also pointed to available land, relatively low costs, fiber infrastructure, other utilities, the airport and proximity to U.S. Highways 65 and 36 as strengths that could help the community position itself for future growth.

Economic Growth A Top Goal

His top goal, he said, is to help stabilize and grow the population.

“The biggest goal is to stabilize and possibly grow the population and find some things that are unique about Trenton that we can build for a future economy, for future growth, future economic vitality for the community,” Harline said.

He said smaller communities face major challenges because traditional economic drivers have changed. Railroads do not function the same way they once did, and agriculture requires fewer people than it did in previous generations.

Harline said that means communities such as Trenton must consider what industries, businesses and workers they can attract and support.

“We’ve got to figure out what we have where we can market ourselves and build prosperous businesses,” Harline said.

Harline said economic development is tied closely to housing, infrastructure and the ability to support employers and workers. If a community wants more jobs but workers cannot find housing, he said, that becomes a barrier to growth.

Harline said he wants the city to establish organizational values and strategic goals so city staff and elected officials have a clear understanding of priorities.

That approach is also reflected in Harline’s employment agreement. The agreement calls for the mayor, City Council and city administrator to define goals and performance objectives each year for the proper operation of the city and achievement of city policy objectives. Those goals are to be reduced to writing and generally attainable within the time limits and annual operating and capital budgets provided.

The agreement also requires the mayor and City Council to review and evaluate Harline’s performance at least annually.

Building An Organization From Within

Another major focus for Harline is the internal culture of city government. He said he wants to build a strong, resilient organization that develops future leaders from within.

“Ideally, we have the future leadership in this organization,” Harline said. “So when I leave, there’s somebody who’s ready to be city manager.”

Harline said he believes in a servant leadership approach, with city leaders supporting employees and employees supporting the community.

“We’re all going to take care of our employees and our employees are going to take care of the community,” Harline said.

He said he wants employees to come to work with purpose and a sense that their work matters. He also said he wants to build a culture that does not focus only on limitations.

Harline said he views local government as similar to an orchestra supporting a musical. Residents may only notice the work when something goes wrong, but the work is still essential to making the larger production succeed.

“We do stuff that you need to do every day,” Harline said. “Most of the time you only notice us if we make a mistake.”

For Harline, the city administrator’s job is to help coordinate that work, keep departments moving in the same direction and make sure the city is responding to what the community needs.

“We make sure everybody works together and keeps an eye on the stage to make sure that we’re doing what the community needs us to do,” Harline said.