Natchez, Adams County and school district officials have filed a petition in bankruptcy court seeking payment of more than $300,000 in back taxes and interest by Condere Corp.

&uot;It all goes back to (post-bankruptcy) taxes we think Condere should pay,&uot; said County Attorney Marion Smith. &uot;I can’t give you the exact figure, but it’s enough money … for us to pursue it.&uot;

The petition was filed July 25 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Jackson by bankruptcy attorney Eileen Shaffer Bailey.

Other parties to the bankruptcy have until Aug. 17 to file any objections to the petition, Bailey said.

If objections are filed, a hearing date will be set for the petition – but as of Friday, no objections had been filed.

The city, the county and the Natchez-Adams County School District are seeking a total of $214,053.57 in back taxes Condere owed for 1997, said Tax Assessor Vernona Sanders. But when interest figured through Aug. 1 is added, the total amount exceeds $300,000, Sanders said.

Condere filed a bankruptcy petition in May 1997 and closed its Natchez tire plant that June. Titan Tire was then given the right to purchase the plant in September 1998.