County Cook County prepares for emergency management leadership transitionCook 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. 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. 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. “I know it’s not the best time to be transitioning the emergency management position,” Trebil-Halbersma said.