Notwithstanding any provisions of Code Section 36-39-11 to the contrary, where a contract has been let for bid, the municipality, by resolution entered in its minutes, shall award the contract to the lowest reliable bidder, provided that the municipality shall have the right to reject any and all such bids whether such right is reserved in the public notice or not and, in such case, may readvertise, perform the work itself, or abandon the project.