Iowa Code Title I. State Sovereignty and Management [Chs. 1-38D] § 6B.5. Challenges to commissioners--filling vacancies on commission

1. Persons appointed by the chief judge to serve on the compensation commission are excused from the commission if they are removed for cause, stricken by a challenge pursuant to this section, unavailable to serve on the commission, or fail to act in their capacity as commissioners.

2. The applicant may challenge one commissioner without stating cause and the person or persons representing the fee ownership interest in the property may challenge one commissioner without stating cause. A challenge to the appointment of a commissioner shall be filed, in writing, with the sheriff not less than seven days prior to the meeting of the compensation commission, and shall be mailed to the other party by ordinary mail on the day of filing. An alternate commissioner may not be challenged without cause. A challenge filed less than seven days prior to the meeting of the commission shall have no effect.

3. If a person is excused from the commission, the sheriff shall select and notify, not less than twenty-four hours prior to the meeting, the alternate commissioners appointed for that condemnation proceeding, to complete the membership of the commission. Alternate commissioners selected and notified shall have the same qualifications as the person who is being replaced. If no alternates have been appointed, the chief judge of the judicial district shall appoint another person from the list, possessing the same qualifications as the person who is being replaced to complete the membership of the commission.

4. The sheriff shall notify alternate commissioners in the order directed by the chief judge, and the alternate commissioner first notified who is available to serve as a compensation commissioner shall serve in the place of the commissioner who was unable to serve or who was stricken from the panel.

5. If a person is excused from the commission, the applicant and the property owner may stipulate in writing to the selection and notification of a particular alternate having the same qualifications as the person who is being replaced, to complete the membership of the commission. Such stipulation shall be filed with the sheriff not less than seventy-two hours prior to the meeting of the commission.