Snow may be slowly melting away due to recent warmer temperatures, but property owners could still be charged with fines for improper snow removal. City officials are asking residents to clear fire hydrants, sidewalks and piles of snow near intersections as soon as possible for safety reasons.The City of Ames snow ordinance calls for residents to clear their sidewalks within 10 daylight hours from the last accumulation of snow, according to the city’s Web site. The ordinance says city officials will check the walks and may post a 24-hour notice for residents to shovel a path of at least four feet.If sidewalks are not cleared before the posted deadline, city crews will clear the walk and charge the property owner with a fine of $35 plus 75 cents for each foot of sidewalk cleared. Covered walks may be reported to the Public Works Department at 239-5160.Ann Wenger, junior in agricultural education, said the sidewalks at her apartment have not been cleaned off.”[The landlords] don’t keep the sidewalks very clean,” she said. “They don’t make a very big effort to make a path to the bus stop.”The Ames Fire Department is asking citizens to uncover hydrants close to their homes as a safety measure for all residents.”If a fire breaks out in a home and the hydrant is buried in snow, it will slow the response because we will have to stop and shovel out the hydrant,” Ames Fire Chief Clint Petersen said.Petersen named one incident where the crew had to scoop out Ken Maril Road for a fire, adding that such a case hasn’t happened in several years.”During the light snow years, removal isn’t a problem, but since there was so much accumulation this year, hydrants are becoming piles of snow,” he said.Petersen also said neighbors should lend helping hands to each other.”There’s no city program for this,” he said. “People have to rely on neighbors to help each other out.”Although currently there isn’t a fine for snow-covered hydrants, Petersen said residents should still be concerned about snow becoming compacted on the hydrants and more difficult to remove.The Ames Public Works Department is also asking property owners who live on corner lots to reduce the snow piles that may interfere with drivers’ sight lines.”It is in everyone’s best interest to keep the streets as safe as possible, and if residents could take a few minutes to reduce large piles near their homes, it would be a great service to everyone,” said Public Works Director Paul Wiegand.ISU Department of Public Safety Director Loras Jaeger said there weren’t many campus parking problems due to the heavy snow.”Because there are few vehicles here over break we didn’t have much of a problem with snow removal and accidents,” he said.