At the time appointed in the summons, the magistrate shall proceed to investigate the charge, in the same manner as in the case of a natural person brought before the magistrate, so far as those proceedings are applicable. If the corporation does not appear or plead at the time and place specified in the summons, the court shall make inquiry into the service of process, and being satisfied that same has been carried out as provided herein, the court may proceed with the matter without further process.
Iowa Code § 807.4