In any county of this state having a population of 550,000 or more according to the United States decennial census of 1980 or any future such census, contracts for building or repairing any courthouse or other public building, jail, bridge, causeway, or other public works or public property shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder, but the governing authority of any such county shall have the right to reject any or all bids for any such contract. The governing authority of any such county, in considering whether a bidder is responsible, may consider the bidder's quality of work, general reputation in the community, financial responsibility, previous employment on public works, and compliance with a minority business enterprise participation plan or making a good faith effort to comply with the goals of such a plan.