Fulton Heights residents on Monday pleaded with Rowan County commissioners to prevent the death of more pets in their Salisbury neighborhood.

Geoffrey Hoy and Josh Wainright, both Fulton Heights residents, described how two dogs have been killing cats in the area since October. Both spoke during the county board’s regularly scheduled public comment period on Monday.

Wainright described how he chased two dogs with a bat after witnessing his family’s cat torn apart by the animals. Wainright said the cat survived long enough to make it to a veterinarian. Later, Wainright and his girlfriend were forced to euthanize the animal.

Describing his experience chasing the two dogs, Wainright said they clearly weren’t stray. Wainright said the dogs might have peacefully approached him, if he had a dog treat.

“What do we do about domestic animals?” Wainright asked.

Both Wainright and Hoy asked commissioners to focus attention of animal control staff toward preventing more animals from being killed in Fulton Heights and other areas.

“It’s very disheartening and saddening to those people to watch family pets torn apart by these dogs,” Hoy said. “We would ask for greater cooperation between city police and animal control, to work hand in glove when you have something going on. … If this can happen in one neighborhood, it could go on in other neighborhoods.”

Wainright said animal control staff haven’t been helpful in catching the dogs. He specifically pointed out the fact that the Rowan County Animal Shelter — operated by county government — doesn’t open until 11 a.m. Wainright’s cat was attacked three hours before an animal control employee arrived in Fulton Heights, he said.

Hoy specifically asked that commissioners place discussion about the matter on the agenda for the board’s annual planning retreat — scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

Commissioners largely didn’t respond to comments made by Hoy and Wainright. However, Commissioner Judy Klusman, a Fulton Heights resident, interjected before commissioners proceeded into another item on the agenda.

“Mr. chairman, if I could just make one comment before we move on,” Klusman said. “I live in the Fulton Heights area, have been contacted by a number of people, and it’s good to see police and animal control working together, but we haven’t gotten very far.”

Klusman said she hopes commissioners can support “beefing up” animal control.

The most recent support from commissioners for animal control came during summer 2015, when the county finalized its fiscal year 2016 budget. For the first time in the county’s history, animal control’s budget grew to more than $1 million.

In other business from Monday’s meeting:

• Commissioners unanimously approved a conditional use permit to allow a solar farm on the 2400 block of Organ Church Road near the Rowan-Cabarrus border.

The solar farm would cover about 61 acres and involve a buffer of trees between the solar farm and adjacent pieces of land. One nearby property owner expressed concerns that ownership group Organ Church Solar Farm LLC would tear down existing trees to build its buffer. Later during Monday’s meeting, multiple company representatives said the planned buffer would be in addition to existing trees.

The solar farm would generate five megawatts of power, enough for several hundred houses.

Commenting on the solar farm permit, Commissioner Craig Pierce said the proposal would be relatively benign for neighbors. Pierce used a hog farm, which would be allowed under the property’s zoning, as an example of a harmful proposal for nearby neighbors.

• Commissioners unanimously voted to sell 6.17 acre piece of property in Speedway Business Park. The purchase offer from Bowtie Properties, owned by Makson Inc., totals $72,750. Makson plans to use the property to build a warehouse for the company’s construction and motorsports operations.

Bowtie made its offer in December. Rowan County hasn’t received any other offers as part of the upset bid process.

• Commissioners unanimously voted to select Utah-based Victus Advisors to oversee a sports complex feasibility study.

• Commissioners voted to give ADW architects the authority to proceed with phase two of West End Plaza.

The county has already approved bids for roofing and interior work — part of phase one — at West End Plaza.

• Commissioners set a hearing for Jan. 19 regarding a cell tower on Mooresville Road. APC Towers LLC and Nexsen Pruet PLLC are proposing the construction of a 195-foot-tall cell tower at 3513 Mooresville Road.

The tower would be for Verizon Wireless.

• Commissioners approved a contract between Rowan County and all rural fire departments in Rowan.

Since March 2015, county staff and the fire departments have developed and updated a contract. The item up for consideration on Monday consolidates multiple documents into one contract.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.