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The gates at the Yellowknife airport continued to work this week despite a broken "push" button on one of them. - Cara Loverock/ NNSL Photo

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The automated gates at the Yellowknife airport hit another glitch on Sunday when a "push" button broke at the entry gate but it has not effected the operation of the parking lot, according to airport officials.

The pay system was reinstalled last August and has since led to a number of complaints about malfunctions.

In September, Yellowknifer reported on a man who was stuck inside the parking lot for 25 minutes.

"This is one (malfunction) that shouldn't be a problem again," said Steve Loutitt, manager of the Yellowknife airport.

In this instance, he said, human error caused the problem on one of the two entrance gates.

"When you first come up (to the entrance), you push the button," he said. "Someone pushed it and it broke."

Loutitt said new parts have been ordered and parking lot operations have not been affected.

"Initially there was some complaints. There was some growing pains," he said, adding the automated system had been working consistently for two weeks.

"We've made some great progress."

The gates were not working during the Christmas holidays, which allowed cars to park for free. They were up and running again on Jan. 7.

The gates operate by issuing a ticket to vehicles as they come through the entry gate, which keeps track of the amount of time a vehicle is parked in the lot. A machine inside the airport validates tickets. Validated tickets are to be used at the exit gate.

The first hour is free. After this an hourly rate of $1 is charged. The daily rate is $10 and the weekly rate, $50.

"The airport and the department don't see a dime of that," said Earl Blacklock, communications manager with the GNWT Department of Transportation.

Money made from the automated parking goes toward general revenues. "The finance minister decides how that is spent," said Blacklock, adding he doesn't know how much money has been collected so far.