The Willcomes, whose farm produced 2 million pounds of milk last year, turned out Thursday to hear more about a proposal to preserve farmland in Ottawa County. The county's Planning Commission is studying the proposed Purchase of Development Rights program.

Gerald Willcome expressed skepticism about the proposal, which would allow farmers to sell the development rights to their property to the county, preserving the land for farming forever.

The farmer would be paid the difference between the agricultural value of the land and its potential development value, county officials said.

"If they want to help the farmer, they could help on (lowering) property taxes," he said.

A major concern raised by people who attended the hearing was how the PDR program would be funded.

No local funding sources have been identified, and it is unlikely the county board will set aside general fund tax dollars to pay the local share.

"You've got to start somewhere," said Lyle Veldheer, who owns 39 acres of farmland in Olive Township. "Funding is the issue."

Funding has been a major issue in Kent County, where a farm conservation program has spent more than $2.7 million to preserve land in three rural townships. The program has little money available.

Another potential concern is allowing the agricultural easement to last in perpetuity. In other states with similar programs, a time limit is in place for how long the land is protected from development.

The plan, developed by county officials and the Ottawa County Farm Bureau, would create a seven-member commission to review applications.

It also would create a set of criteria for judging applications, such as size of the parcel, how much of it is used for farming and whether it is suited for future commercial or industrial use in a local land-use plan.

The Planning Commission is expected to vote March 24 on whether to recommend the program to the county Board of Commissioners.