Iowa Code § 400.22: Charges.

Within fourteen calendar days from the service of the notice of appeal, the person or body making the ruling appealed from shall file with the body to which the appeal is taken a written specification of the charges and grounds upon which the ruling was based. If the charges are not filed, the person removed, discharged, demoted, or suspended may present the matter to the body to whom the appeal is to be taken by affidavit, setting forth the facts, and the body to whom the appeal is to be taken shall immediately enter an order reinstating the person removed, discharged, demoted, or suspended for want of prosecution.