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Resident criticizes Isanti mayor’s online language, urges apology and code of conduct; others defend school bond
Summary
During public comment, resident Josh Bosmo said Mayor Luke Merrill used 'extremely offensive' language online and urged the council to demand a public apology and adopt a code of conduct. Other commenters defended the school bond process and said facilities need repair.
Josh Bosmo, a resident who identified himself during public comment, told the Isanti City Council he was "appalled" by vulgar social media posts by Mayor Luke Merrill and said elected officials should be held to the same standards as students. "You used extremely offensive, vulgar language," Bosmo said, asking the council to "demand that he issue a public apology" and to adopt a code of conduct for city officials.
Bosmo told the council he volunteers with youth sports and that the mayor’s posts reflect badly on the community. "I would never expect under any circumstances to have somebody call [my family] that name," he said, citing the effect on children and the community’s image.
Later in the public‑comment period, a resident who gave her name as Emily pushed back on criticisms of the school bond process and said the schools’ published materials show the process was transparent. Emily said the bond’s estimated property cost is calculated on home‑value averages and that the public — including 59 community members who worked on the proposal and a unanimously voting school board — had opportunities to review it. "I will be voting yes," she said, and described leaking roofs, old furnaces and a past gas‑leak evacuation at local schools as reasons to invest in facilities.
Mayor Luke Merrill acknowledged he had received threats and defended separating his personal social‑media account from official city communications. "I have gotten a lot of threats, some pretty nasty ones," he said, adding that he keeps that material on a different personal page and does not use the mayor’s official page for such posts.
The council did not take formal disciplinary action during the meeting. Bosmo’s request for a formal code of conduct or a demanded apology was noted during the public‑comment record but no motion to require an apology or adopt a code was advanced at this session.
The council proceeded with the agenda after closing public comment.
