Cook County prepares for emergency management leadership transition

Cook County officials are working to ensure a smooth transition within the county’s emergency management department as Emergency Management Director Mike Keyport prepares to retire Sept. 1.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners formally accepted Keyport’s resignation during the July 28 meeting. County officials thanked Keyport for his nearly seven years of service.

County Administrator Kristen Trebil–Halbersma said the county has been planning for Keyport’s retirement for several months but accelerated transition efforts following the ongoing wildfire response across northern Minnesota and the Superior National Forest.

“So that’s exactly why we brought Paramount Planning on board,” Trebil-Halbersma said.

On July 20, the county board approved a resolution to hire the company Paramount Planning and contract with Steve VanKekerix to provide emergency management support during the transition. VanKekerix, who serves as Cook County’s Firewise coordinator and previously has served as the emergency management director in Carlton County, has been assisting with wildfire response operations while Keyport focuses on preparing the department for the leadership change.

Paramount Planning is a emergency management and public safety consulting firm based in Grand Rapids, Minn.

Trebil-Halbersma said the arrangement has allowed the county to divide responsibilities during an especially demanding wildfire season.

“It has allowed us the bandwidth to have Mike Keyport work on some of the transition things that we need in place as we hire for the new emergency management director and have Steve focus on the emergency operations center and fire response,” she said.

Emergency Management Director Mike Keyport & Firewise Steve VanKekerix | Photo by Kalli Hawkins

Meanwhile, the county is moving forward with hiring Keyport’s successor. Trebil-Halbersma said the county is actively conducting first-round and second-round interviews with the qualified applicants.

First-round interviews are taking place this week, with a second round of interviews scheduled for next week. Trebil-Halbersma said there were six qualified applicants who passed the initial human resources screening process.

Trebil-Halbersma said the county hopes to have the new emergency management director hired before Keyport’s Sept. 1 retirement to allow for an overlap and transition period. If that timeline is not met, VanKekerix will continue to assist the county in maintaining continuity.

“I know it’s not the best time to be transitioning the emergency management position,” Trebil-Halbersma said. “However, I do feel like, again, we’ve put the necessary steps in place to ensure a seamless and successful transition.”

WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins spoke with County Administrator Kristen Trebil-Halbersma following the July 28 board meeting to talk about the county’s experience over the past two weeks responding to the Little Knife Fire, the transition within the emergency management department, and other county priorities. Audio below.

Kalli Hawkins July 30, 2026