Repairs to the Beaufort County Detention Center could be completed by mid-September, allowing inmates to return to the jail if the state gives the green light to do so.

Christina Smith, Beaufort County’s public-works director, gave a jail-repairs update to the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners during its meeting Monday. As part of the process to return inmates to the jail, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services will inspect the repaired jail to determine if it’s ready to receive those inmates.

A wiring problem in a commercial dryer caused the evacuation and closure of the jail in June. Engineers looking into the situation said the dryer issue was part of underlying, potentially dangerous electrical problems in the jail.

The jail was hit with power outages June 6 and June 8, forcing Sheriff Alan Jordan to abandon the facility until the problems are corrected. Beaufort County inmates are being held at other jails or correctional facilities at a cost of roughly $55 per inmate, per day, a cost that doesn’t include extra manpower and transportation costs.

An emergency generator required for the jail, located in the basement of the Beaufort County Courthouse, is on site and the concrete pad for it has been poured, Smith said. Installation of the generator is expected to be completed by next week. Watson Electric is doing the generator work.

Power Products & Solutions Inc. out of Charlotte inspected and performed preventative maintenance activities on the switchgear for the courthouse Saturday. That work required a complete shutdown of the electrical systems at the courthouse for that day. The company is preparing a report and will advise of any recommended future work for the switchgear.

Smith said each of the six breakers had “issues.” PP&S is developing repair/replace options for the switchgear and the estimated costs of those options, Smith noted. During repair or replacement work, the county would be able to rent breakers to help facilitate repairs and/or replacement efforts, she said.